will be the duty of the agent at the station
and the officers of the bank, but I am very glad that the bag has been
recovered. This packet doubtless contains registered letters for me. I
was expecting them and their loss would have caused us all some trouble.
One thing, however. Has no one told you of the danger of wandering
through our woods, especially at night?"

Dick Percival was about to say something which Jack did not want him to
say at the moment and he quickly interposed:

"Yes, sir, they have, and I will admit that I was careless. However, I
will take better precautions in future."

"Do so. I should be very sorry if anything happened to you and I do not
like to restrict the enjoyment of the young gentlemen under my care.
They enjoy walking through the woods but all of them know the danger and
I need not restrict them as long as they know where to go."

"Then these things had better be taken to the station and to the bank at
Riverton?" asked Jack.

"Yes. To-morrow you and Percival may attend to it. Meanwhile, I will
wire the bank officers that some of their property has been found. There
will doubtless be a reward given for its recovery and I am very glad
that this is so, for your sake."

"My finding it was quite accidental, however, Doctor."

"Even so, the reward has been offered and belongs to you. It is
immaterial how the property was found as long as it was found. You must
have had a thrilling adventure but I am glad that only your wearing
apparel and not you suffered injury."

The bag was left with the doctor and the boys left him, Jack to get
whole garments out of his meagre store and Dick to house his car.

Outside they came upon Herring, who turned pale when he saw Jack and
muttered, half under his breath:

"Then you were not killed? I was afraid that----"

"No, he was not," said Dick, "little thanks, however, to----" but Jack
gave him a sudden look and he stopped short.

Herring hurried away to join some of his companions at a little distance
and Dick said:

"I was too much in a hurry, I see, and now it will be harder to discover
the truth. Herring will be on his guard."

"And we don't know that he had anything to do with it."

"It lies between him and Merritt, I am certain, but I will keep still
after this until I am certain."

Those of the boys who had heard of the accident to Jack were quick to
assure him of their satisfaction that he was not seriously hurt and
there the matter