“An, that is one easy thing to do,” laughed the girl.  “Then you do not mean to make me arrest?”

“No, certainly not,” said Jack.

“I am very glad.  Good morning, sir,” said Gabrielle, and in a moment she had whisked past the boys, and when they turned to see where she had gone she had disappeared.

“Well, that thing is explained at any rate,” said Percival.  “We thought she might have done it, but I don’t see now how she managed it.”

“She is evidently very quick in her motions,” suggested Jack, “and from what we know of the man she was with, she may have been just such a character herself, and have learned deftness of fingers from him.  He was evidently a pickpocket, and perhaps she had practiced the trade herself.  That is the only explanation I can give.”

“No doubt it is the correct one, but it does not matter.  It is really the only feasible explanation there is.  She had had the watch, and she was the only one who was close enough to you that night to have done it.”

“Well, we shall probably not see her again to find out just how she did it, and very likely she would not tell us, as that would be revealing one of the secrets of the trade, and, of course, she could not do that.”

CHAPTER XIX

THE TROUBLES OF THE SURVEYING PARTY

Shortly after the meeting with Gabrielle the boys were greatly surprised by the doctor’s announcing that he had received a proposition from the company which operated the mountain railroads in that section for the Hilltop boys to survey a new line and afterward build it.

“This will give those of you who are studying engineering and surveying some practical experience,” the Doctor added.  “Just the surveying for the branch road will be done at this time, and later, some time in the fall, before the regular term begins, you will do the building.  If you are agreeable we will move our camp in a day or so and begin the work at once.  Not all of you will care to go, of course, as all are not far advanced enough for the work.”

Percival, Jack and a number of others were fit to go into the work, however, and they were delighted at the prospect of a change of scene and of doing other work, and the party was quickly made up.

Being settled in their new camp, the young surveyors set out, carrying their instruments, a number of the boys who were not engaged in the work following them out of curiosity to see them at work.

Percival and his gang went ahead, and shortly after they had started, Jack and his boys followed, Jack with a level over his shoulder and boys with flags, axes, chains and other things necessary in the work, accompanying him, all in high spirits.

Billy Manners had a magazine camera slung over his shoulder and as the boys set out at a brisk walk he ran ahead of the party, turned his camera upon them, and took a snap shot, saying with a laugh: