"Because stolen property, when recovered, has to be turned over to the
police first of all. Then, if the thief is caught, the police have the
loot as evidence against the thief."

"How long do the police keep the stuff?" demanded Greg.

"Until the thief's trial, if there is one, is over."

"Then, if Fits is caught, Mr. Dick, it may be a long time before you'll
have the right to wear your own watch."

"I can wear it now, out here," retorted Prescott, slipping the silver
watch into a vest pocket and passing the chain through a buttonhole.

"On second thought, though, I won't. We're not sure that Mr. Fits may
not reappear. If he did, and found me wearing a watch, he would
understand, and might get fighting mad. If Fits had a fellow rascal or
two along with him, they could put up more fight than we boys could
take care of. If Fits should come along, and not see any proof that we
had found his plunder, he might wait until we are all out of the way
before he made any effort to find it. Oh! While I think of it, Greg, I
wish you and Hen would take buckets and go to the spring for water."

Dutcher grumbled a bit, though he felt that it wasn't safe to rebel
openly. He and Greg were gone some time, for, as usual, the ice over the
top of the spring had to be chopped away before the water could be
obtained.

So, when Hen came in, after pouring his bucketful into the barrel, he
noted that the plunder had vanished.

"What did you do with all the stuff?" Greg demanded curiously.

"It has vanished," smiled Dick.

Greg said no more, but started outside, followed by Hen. Later in the
afternoon Greg was told, in whispers, where the plunder had been hidden
anew. Hen, too, demanded this information, but the Grammar School boys
thought it best not to enlighten him. If Dutcher were caught alone in
the cabin by a fellow like Mr. Fits, Hen wasn't likely to hold out his
knowledge against threats, and Fits must not be given another chance at
the plunder he had first stolen and then hidden.

Soon after darkness came on supper was ready.

"I wonder if we're going to hear the ghosts to-night," muttered Greg.

"No one knows that," Dick answered. "But I think we'd better keep one
fellow on guard when the rest go to bed. The guard can take a two hour
trick. He can keep the fire going, and, if anything happens, he can warn
the other fellows in turn."

So, at nine o'clock, when the others turned in, Greg, the air rifle in
one hand, pace