CHAPTER IV
A USELESS PURSUIT
Half an hour later Tom awoke with a start. For the moment he could not tell what had aroused him. Then he remembered hearing the slam of a door or a window sash.
"Must have been the storm," he told himself, and was about to turn over and go to sleep when he heard a gun-shot from the direction of the barn.
"Something is wrong, that's certain!" he cried. "Sam, wake up!"
"What's the row, Tom?" questioned the youngest brother sleepily.
Before Tom could reply they heard Dick getting up, and also their Uncle Randolph and Aunt Martha.
"What did that shot mean? " demanded Randolph Rover, coming toward the boys' rooms. "Did any of you fire it?"
"No, it came from outside," returned Tom. "Hark!"
"Hullo, in the house!" came in the voice of
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