About one hundred chickens were destroyed." "Just listen to that!" gasped Tom.

"Oh, the rascals!" "And Uncle Randolph's prize stock chickens!" murmured Sam.

"That must have made his heart ache!" "I'll wager Aunt Martha was scared to death," added Tom.

And Dick read on: "Of course there was great excitement, and four of us, the detective, Ness, Pop, and myself, went after the rascals, leaving your Uncle Randolph to look after your aunt and the cook, both of whom were very much frightened.

We hunted around until daylight, but without success.