“No more had we,” answered Fred.  “We just sailed to the place on my iceboat.  We can prove it.”

“We are friends of the Ford family; we can easily prove that, too,” added Jack.  “Mr. Ford and his wife both asked us, when we were in this vicinity, to take a look and see if everything was all right.  We found a strange man in the mansion and we did our best to catch him, but he got away.  What we want you to do is to get busy and try to catch that rascal.  If you don’t do it, we’ll make a complaint against you for neglect of duty.”

While Jack had been major of the school battalion he had been in the habit of speaking in an authoritative voice, and now he used the same tone in addressing Jed Plodders.  The constable stared at the cadet for a moment and then his jaw dropped and likewise the club in his hand.

“Well—­er—­if you’re friends o’ the family mebbe that alters the—­er—­the case,” he stammered.  “Why didn’t you say so fust?”

“You didn’t give us a chance,” answered Fred.

“What you want to do is to go to the house and then try to get on the track of that robber,” said Jack.  “We’ll help you all we can.”

“I got to send word to Mr. Ford.”

“We have already done that, and he will probably come as quickly as he can, or send somebody.”

“Did you git a good look at the man?”

“No, not a very good look.”

“Then you hain’t got no idee who he might be?” went on the constable.

“Well, I think——­” commenced Jack, and then broke off short, and at the same time pinched Fred’s arm.  It would do little or no good to acquaint the constable with their suspicion that the rascal might be the man named Cameron Smith.

“What do you think?” demanded Jed Plodders.

“I think I saw the man in Cedarville once.  But I am not certain.  I rather imagine he was a stranger around here.”

“Thet’s what he was,” came from Isaac Fasick.  “There hain’t no thieves livin’ in these parts.  We are all honest folks.”

Several other men of Cedarville were told about the robbery, and a crowd of half a dozen got on the iceboat and sailed to Point View Lodge.  When they arrived at the house they found that Pepper and Andy had brought in some wood and started a cheerful blaze in the big fireplace of the living-room.

“It was so cold we couldn’t stand it,” said Pepper.  “I don’t think Mr. Ford will mind.”

The constable and the other newcomers inspected the damage done to the safe with interest, and walked through the rooms of the house.  The cadets showed them just how the thief had made his escape, and Jed Plodders and two of the men went off to see if they could trail the evil-doer.

“I think at least one of us ought to stay here until Mr. Ford comes,” said Pepper.

“Supposing you and I stay?” suggested Andy.  “Fred and Jack can take the iceboat back to the Hall and explain matters to Captain Putnam.”