“Did they hurt you any, Dad?” asked the boy anxiously.

“Not so very much, Dick.  We had several rough and tumble fights,—­ when I tried to get away from them.  But they were too many for me.  Have they gone?”

“No, they are in the sitting room below, talking matters over.”

“And you came here all alone?” asked Mr. Rover, stretching his cramped limbs.

“No, Tom and Sam are down in the cellar.  I told them I would come upstairs and investigate.”

“Good!  Then we are four to three.  I am glad to know that.  It will make it easier to get away from them.”

“Have you done anything for them—­ I mean, signed any papers, or anything like that?” asked the son, anxiously.

“No.  They wanted to keep me from signing certain papers that must be signed inside of two days, Dick.”

“I know it.”

“They also wanted me to sign other documents, and Crabtree said if I didn’t do it he would leave me here to starve!”

“The rascal!” muttered Dick.  “We have got to get him back to jail, that’s sure!  Are you sure you are well enough to go with me, Dad? "

“I—­ I think so, Dick.  But this has been an awful strain on me,” sighed Anderson Rover.

He was very pale, and the hand he placed on Dick’s shoulder trembled greatly.

“After this you must let me attend to business for you,” said the son.  “I am old enough to do it.  You need a complete rest.”

“Yes, Dick, but your college career——­”

“We’ll talk about those things later, Dad.  First, I want to get you away from here, and in a safe place.  Then we’ll attend to Crabtree, Pelter and Japson,” added Dick, grimly.

“The business matters have been too much for me—­ I realize it now,” sighed Anderson Rover.  “I must take a rest—­ a good, long rest.  They would not have gotten the best of me if I had been stronger.”

“Come,” said Dick.  “Don’t make any noise if you can help it,” he added, in a whisper.

He guided his parent, and both tiptoed their way to the second floor of the dwelling.  Then they entered the bed chamber opening on the top of the porch, and so made their way down to the kitchen and then into the cellar.

“Father!” cried Sam and Tom, simultaneously, and rushed to embrace their parent.

“My boys!” murmured Anderson Rover, and the tears stood in his eyes.  Never before had he realized how much they were to him.

“Come on—­ no time to talk now,” said Dick, in a low voice.  “We’ll get away from here first.”

“But those rascals—­” began Sam.

“We’ll take care of them, Sam, never fear.”

The boys led their father from the cellar and across the back yard to the barn.  From the barn a lane ran to the main road.  The lane had a hedge that practically hid it from the house.

“Wait here, in the barn,” said Dick.  “But keep out of sight.”

“Where are you going?” asked Tom.