All of which might be interesting news; but it was hardly calculated to quiet the nerves of the two boys.

However, they were not the kind to give up any cherished object simply because it involved peril.

“Thank you, Mr. Stallings.  You said you’d keep an eye on our boat while we were gone, didn’t you?  It isn’t much of a beauty, but you see it’s all we’ve got; and we calculate that it’ll just have to carry both of us to Orleans,” remarked Maurice, as they started away.

“Don’t yuh think of any harm acomin’ tuh the boat, sah.  I’ll give yuh my word they wont.  And if so be yuh choose tuh stay over night, I’ll use the key yuh left with me, an’ put a man inside tuh keep guard, a man who would as soon shoot a thief as eat his bacon.”

So the two chums started off.

The morning was delightfully fresh, with the sun shining overhead, and just a tank of frost in the air, enough to make them tramp along with a spring to their steps.

But before they had gone beyond the last cabin Thad gave utterance to an ejaculation of dismay.

“What’s the matter now; forgot something?  Hope the Marlin is loaded, and you picked up a few more shells for your pocket?” said his comrade, as they both stopped short.

“Oh, sure, I saw to all that.  It’s a different matter,” mumbled Thad, who seemed to be staring hard at something to one side.

Turning, Maurice discovered a tumble-down shack, around which several dirty white children were playing.

“What is it?” he asked; “didn’t think you saw a ghost, again, eh?”

Thad shook his head.

“Nope.  This was a live ghost, I reckon.  And he had a fiery red-top in the bargain,” he said positively.

Immediately Maurice understood what ailed him.

“A man with a red head of hair; and you think it might be the same fellow that tried to rob us yesterday up-river?  Is that it?”

“Sure it is,” replied Thad.

“But you know there are lots of men with red hair?” protested his comrade.

“Yes, but not with that nasty laugh.  You heard it when he paddled away, thinkin’ he had the stuff; and I heard him give the same kind of laugh just when he dodged into that shack.”

“He did, eh?  Funny I didn’t happen to hear it.  What made him laugh this time, d’ye suppose, Thad?”

“Ask me something easy, will you?  P’raps he was tickled to see old friends again.  Then, again, mebbe the notion struck him that after all the fish that got away the other time was comin’ straight into his net.  All I know is he laughed; and that it’s the same critter!”

When Thad was positive it took mountains to change his opinion.

But then Maurice did not see that there was anything improbable in the idea, since the thief who had visited them had rowed down river, and just as likely as not had his home at Morehead.

“Well, come along, pard.  Even if it is our old acquaintance, he’d better think twice before trying to hold us up,” he remarked, giving a pull at the other’s sleeve.