Twice in his haste he fell down, tripping over trailing vines; for the continued shouts of his chum startled him.

And when he burst out of the thicket, to stand on the river bank, close to where Thad was yelling, this was what he saw: 

A row-boat was speeding down the river, urged on by the lusty movements of a red-headed man who was sitting in it; Thad danced about on the deck of the swamp, pointing after the fleeing party, and calling on Maurice to “give him both barrels, the thief!”

But Maurice knew that it was useless, since the other was by this time out of range, and the gun contained only small shot.

Nevertheless, urged on by the frantic appeals of Thad he did level the Marlin, and bang away, though he saw the man duck down before the reports came.

After the bombardment was over the redhead again poked into view, and the fugitive made a movement with his hand to indicate his poor opinion of such useless business.

Maurice, fearing the worst, began to drag the boat in to shore.

Dixie, having been drawn from his prowling around in search of game by the shouts and shots, leaped in even before the little dinghy had reached the bank.

By the time Maurice climbed out on the deck Thad seemed to have recovered from his excitement to some extent.

“Didn’t I tell you I saw a face, and wasn’t it a sorrel-top, too?  Mebbe you’ll believe me next time, my boy,” he said, impressively.

“Where was he, and what was he doing?” demanded Maurice, showing signs of alarm, and looking a bit weak as he contemplated the grave consequences that might follow this raid.

“In the cabin, of course, and making himself at home.  He had his boat on the other side there, so I never suspected anything wrong till he dashed out, jumped into it, and pulled like everything.”

“Were you on board then?” asked Maurice.

“Just climbing on deck when he came jumping out like a whirlwind.”

“Perhaps you disturbed him in his game then?” suggested Maurice making a bee-line for the open door.

When a few seconds later the other followed him it was to see Maurice on hands and knees before the little opening in the wall of the cabin, thrusting in his arm as far as he could.

“Oh!  Thad, it’s gone—­the thief got away with poor Bunny’s money!” he was exclaiming, his voice full of horror.

“Well, he would have hooked it, only for something I did that you’d have called silly if you’d seen me!”

And with this complacent remark Thad coolly walked over to the shelf where some of their cooking utensils stood, took down the battered old coffeepot, and throwing back the lid, thrust his hand inside.

The astonished eyes of his mate followed each little proceeding with rare interest; and when Maurice saw the well remembered diary of old appear, which being opened disclosed the lovely yellowbacks nestling within, he gave a shout twice repeated, while he swung his hat around his head.