“That’s all right —­ Seth Dickerson is allers ready to aid a fellow-bein’ in distress,” answered the farmer.  “Can ye git in the wagon alone?”

Tom could not, and the farmer and Dick carried him forward and placed him on the seat.  Then the damaged bicycle was placed in the rear of the turnout, and Seth Dickerson drove off, while Sam and Dick followed on their steeds of steel.

“I see you air dressed in cadet uniforms,” remarked the farmer, as the party proceeded on its way.  “Be you fellers from Pornell school?”

“No; we come from Putnam Hall,” answered Tom.

“Oh, yes — ’bout the same thing, I take it.  How is matters up to the school —­ larnin’ a heap?”

“We are trying to learn all we have to.”

“Had some trouble up thar, didn’t ye?  My wife’s brother was a-tellin’ me about it.  A darkey stole some money an’ watches, an’ that like.”

“They think he stole them,” said Tom.

“We can hardly believe it.”

“Why don’t Captain Putnam hunt around them air pawnshops fer the watches?” went on Seth Dickerson, after a pause.

“The thief would most likely pawn ’em, to my way of thinkin’.”

“He hasn’t much of a chance to do that.  But I presume the police will keep their eyes open.”

“I was over to Auburn yesterday —­ had to go to see about a mortgage on our farm —­ and I stopped into one of them pawnbrokin’ shops to buy a shot-gun, if I could git one cheap.  While I was in there a big boy came in and pawned a gold watch an’ two shirt studs.”

“Is that so,” returned Tom, with much interest.  “What kind of a looking boy was it?”

“A tall, slim feller, with reddish hair.  He had sech shifty eyes I couldn’t help but think that maybe he had stolen them things jest to raise some spending money.”

“Did he give his name?”

“He said Jack Smith, but I don’t think thet vas correct, for he hesitated afore he gave it.”

“A tall, slim fellow, with reddish hair and shifty eyes,” mused Tom.  “Do you remember how he was dressed?”

“He had on a rough suit of brownish-green and a derby hat with a hole knocked in one side.”

“My gracious me!” burst out the boy.  “Can it be possible!”

“Can wot be possible, lad?”

“That description fits one of our students exactly.”  Tom called to Dick and Sam.  “Come up here, both of you!”

“What’s up, Tom; do you feel worse?” asked Dick, as he wheeled as closely to the seat of the wagon as possible.

“No, I feel better.  But I’ve made a big discovery —­ at least, I feel pretty certain that I have?”

“What discovery?” questioned Sam.

“I’ve discovered who stole that money and other stuff.”

“And who was it?” came quickly from both brothers.

“Jim Caven.”

CHAPTER X

A STRANGE MESSAGE FROM THE SEA