“Now fork over them funds!” commanded the count, when the panting lad was exhausted.

“I sha’n’t do it!” was the sturdy reply.

“Very well; then we’ll do it for you.”

The lad made no resistance, and the tramps searched him thoroughly from head to foot.  Not a penny was found on him.

“We ought to break your head for that trick,” said the duke, “and if it had done you any good we’d do so; but we understand it.  You flung the money away when you made a rush for the fence.”

“If I did,” was the defiant response of the boy, “all you’ve got to do is to find it again.”

“We’ll soon do that; hold him fast till I get it, and then we’ll settle with him.”

The tousled scamp shuffled off to the side of the highway to search for the package, which he was convinced had been thrown there at the time their prisoner made his dash for freedom.

“That’ll prove bad bus’ness for you,” growled the duke, who was the custodian of Tom.

“Not any worse than if you had got it,” replied the youth, who was thoroughly roused by his brutal treatment.  He had been struck several times, but could not believe the ruffians would dare put him to death in revenge for the loss of the money, that is, provided they did recover it.

“Haven’t you found it, Dick?” called the duke, forgetting the title of his comrade.

“No, confound it!  I don’t know where to look for it.”

“Where did you fling it?” demanded the duke of his captive.

“I shall not tell you; you may kill me first.”

“Very well; take that!”

But Tom managed to dodge the blow, and, by a quick leap, freed himself of the grip of his captor.  The next minute he was off like a deer.

Possibly the tramp might have overtaken him, had he made the effort; but he chose to let him go while he joined his friend in hunting for the money.

They kept up the search for hours, and were then, obliged to give it up.  Afraid that the boy, who must have reached home long before, would bring friends back, the tramps took their departure while the opportunity was theirs, and were seen no more.

Tom Gordon did a brave thing.  The moment he discovered he was not pursued, he hid himself at the side of the road, and waited till the scamps departed.  Then, when the moon had risen, he stole back again, and, remembering quite well where he had thrown the package of money, found it with little difficulty, and reaching home without further incident, told his stirring experience to his mother and aunt.

Chapter VII.