“Thank yer fer turnin’ me loose,” said Tom.  “I’ve been tryin’ ter get away fer months, but couldn’t.  Here’s a tip:  They’re goin’ ter rob ther Overland Express t’-night right out yon at that little station yer can see from ther top o’ ther rise.  Ther loot is ter be hid near Bubbly Spring until things blow over, but ther gang will come here.  Thar’s my tip.  Good-by.  I’m off.”

The fellow disappeared up the bank of the stream.

Ted bound the other upon the back of his pony, which he found not far from the scene of his own downfall, and conveyed him to Green River, where he placed him in jail, with instructions that he should be allowed to communicate with no one.

Then he and Stella returned to the Billings ranch house.

“Say nothing whatever about our adventure,” said Ted, as he and Stella rode along discussing the matter.  “I think there will be something doing there to-night.”

When they got back to the ranch, Ted simply explained their absence by saying that they had ridden farther than they had at first intended.

Ted was introduced to the other guests, who had arrived in his absence.  There was Mr. Norcross, the banker, who looked a little sheepish when Ted shook hands with him and acted as if he had never seen him before.  The man with the black mustache and the red necktie was Mr. Dennis Corrigan, of Chicago, and neither he nor the boys appeared to have seen him before.  The young man with the pointed beard was Mr. van Belder, of New York.

Colonel Billings was full of hospitable notions, and made the afternoon pass delightfully.

“They tell me there is very good shooting in the neighborhood at times,” said Mr. Corrigan, as they all sat on the veranda in the afternoon.

“Excellent,” said the colonel.  “At this time of the year the snipe shooting is fine.”

“What is the best time to shoot them?” asked Van Belder.

“I should say after dark,” said the host, with an imperceptible wink at Mr. Corrigan.

“I don’t see how you can shoot snipe after dark,” said Ted.

“You don’t exactly shoot them,” explained Mr. Corrigan.  “It’s this way, and a fine game, and often practiced in South Chicago:  The party goes out, and one holds the bag while the rest go along and drive the birds in, and the fellow who holds the bag catches them in it.  It’s lots easier than shooting them, and you get more birds.”

“By Jove, that’s a new experience to me!” said Ted.  “I’d like to try it.”

Mr. van Belder looked at him curiously, but drawled that he thought it very fine sport.  So it was agreed that that night they should go on a snipe-bagging expedition.

The party was to be made up of Ted, who was eager to hold the bag for the snipe to run into; Mr. Corrigan, the colonel, Mr. van Belder, and a few others.

Most of the boys declined absolutely to go.

“Say, aire ye gittin’ plumb dotty?” asked Bud, when he got Ted out of hearing.  “Tell me, is it possible thet yer eyeteeth aire so far secreted up inter yer head thet yer don’t know erbout baggin’ snipe?”