“Look there!” whispered Giant, pointing to a tin can that had had some condensed milk in it.  “That looks like our stuff!”

“Look at the clay pipe,” put in Whopper.  “Do you know what I think?”

“He is the rascal who looted our camp?”

“Yes; and maybe he is the fellow who looted the Spink camp, too.”

“Let us make him a prisoner!”

All were willing, and they looked around for a rope.

“Here is his horse-pistol,” said Snap, picking it up.  “I think I’ll keep it for the present.”

A rope happened to be handy, and with great care they fastened one end around the negro’s right wrist.  Then they brought that hand over to the other and tied the two together.  With another piece of the, rope they tied one ankle fast to the other.

The job was just finished when the negro awoke in a lazy sort of way.  He stared stupidly at the young hunters and then his eyes opened widely and he sat bolt upright.

“Wha-what’s dis?” he stammered.  “Whar did yo’ cum from?”

“Stay where you are,” ordered Snap, sternly, and flourished the horse-pistol.

“Do-doan yo’ shoot me!” cried the negro.

“Then stay right where you are.  If you try to get up this pistol may go off.”

“Has yo’ been a-follerin’ me?”

“Never mind.  We have found you and you are our prisoner,” put in Shep.

“Huh!  Does yo’ t’ink I’se afraid ob foah boys!”

“Well, do you want to be shot?” asked Snap, holding the pistol on a level with the colored man’s head.

“Stop!” screamed the rascal.  “Don’t do dat!  It might go off!”

“Then you keep quiet.”

“What have you done with Simon Lundy’s gold watch?” asked Giant.

“Don’t know nuffin’ about any gold watch.”

“Yes, you do.  You took it—–­there is no use of your denying it,” came from Shep.

“Is dat man around?” asked the colored rascal, suspiciously.

“Are you alone here?” asked Snap, ignoring the question.

“Suah I is.  Say, boys, yo’ let me go an’ I’ll make it all right wid yo’,” went on the evildoer, struck by a sudden idea.

“What is your name?” asked Whopper.

“Jeff Thompson.”

“Where do you belong?”

“Over to Hamilton.”

“What did you do with that gold watch?”

“I ain’t said dat I had de watch.”

“But we are positive you took it,” said Snap “Come, tell us where it is.”

“I dun hocked it,” was the low answer.

“Hocked it?” queried Giant.

“Yes, pawned it fo’ six dollahs.”

“Where?”

“At Levy’s store in Williamsport.”

“Where is the ticket?” asked Shep.

“Heah in my pocket.  I’se a poah man, dat’s wot I am,” went on Jeff Thompson.  “I didn’t hab no wuk an’ I was des’prit.  So I tuk dat watch.  I meant to git it back some day.”