CHAPTER IV

A MIDNIGHT SEARCH

That night was destined to be an eventful one on the Rover farm. Arriving home, Sam and Tom told of the fun they had had and Dick laughed heartily. Then all three of the boys went to bed.

About midnight came a loud shouting from the barn, followed by the report of a shotgun. This was followed by a shriek from Sarah, the cook, who was afraid that burglars had come to murder her.

"What's that?" questioned Dick, as he hopped out of bed.

"That's Jack Ness' gun," answered Tom. "Something must be wrong at the barn."

"Chicken thieves again--I'll bet a new hat," said Sam. By this time Randolph Rover and his wife were up and were lighting a lamp. Without waiting for them, the boys slipped on some clothing and their shoes and ran downstairs. Dick took with him a pistol and each of the others a baseball bat.

"Boys! boys! be careful!" shouted their uncle after them.

"All right," returned Dick, readily.

He was the first outside, but Sam and Tom were close upon his heels. He heard Jack Ness running to the edge of a cornfield, shouting lustily. Then came another report of the shotgun.

"What is it, Jack?" shouted Dick. "Who are you shooting at?"

"I'm after two men," was the hired man's reply. "They jest run into the cornfield."

"Chicken thieves?" queried Tom.

"I guess so--anyway they was prowlin' around the hen house an' the barn. I called an' asked 'em what they wanted and they ran for dear life--so I knew they was up to no good."

Answer the following questions:
1. where did the men run to?
2. how many were they?
3. did anyone shoot?
4. who?
5. did anyone scream?
6. who was she?
7. what did she think was happening?
8. what time did all this happen?
9. did anyone tell the boys to take care?
10. what did the boys think the two men were?
11. who recognized where the shot was from?
12. what is the name of the farm?
13. where the boys happy before bed?
14. what did they talk about?
15. who lit a lamp?
16. did dick have a weapon?
17. what?
18. did the other two have guns as well?
19. then what?
20. what did Jack say the men were doing?

Numbered answers:
1. cornfield
2. two
3. Yes
4. Jack Ness
5. Sarah
6. the cook
7. afraid that burglars had come to murder her
8. About midnight
9. their uncle
10. Chicken thieves
11. Tom
12. Rover farm
13. Yes
14. of the fun
15. Randolph Rover and his wife
16. Yes
17. a pistol
18. No
19. a baseball bat
20. they was prowlin' around the hen house an' the barn