ept away," muttered Tom Reade.

"Unless we could have had the pleasure of jumping on the rascal and
getting the glory of capturing him," flashed Dave Darrin.

"I feel a bit blue over leaving the good old cabin," complained Greg
Holmes.

"So would I," returned Dick, "if it weren't for the fact that Lawyer
Ripley told us we could use the place whenever we choose. That means
that we can go camping there again."

"Maybe Lawyer Ripley will take back what he said when he hears about the
cook shack being burned to the ground," suggested Harry solemnly.

"But we didn't burn it down, anyway," retorted Dick.

"Who did, then?" asked Joe curiously.

None of Dick & Co., however, offered an answer.

After glancing at the boys in turn, Joe decided to hold his peace on
that topic.

It was well after dark when the outfit arrived in Gridley. Joe drove to
Dick's first, with that youngster's belongings. The other boys jumped
from the "rig" and scurried homeward for supper.

"Young man," was Mr. Prescott's greeting of his son, "from all I hear,
you boys went in for a bigger list of adventure than you outlined to us
before starting away."

"It wasn't on account of any wishes of ours, Dad," laughed Dick. "We
fairly had the extra excitement thrust on us."

"I hope you've had a good time, my son, and supper is ready for you,"
remarked Mrs. Prescott practically.

"Run upstairs with your mother and have your meal," directed the elder
Prescott. "I'll watch the store while your mother is thrilling over the
doings of the week."

"Mother," was one of Dick's first questions upstairs, "did Dan's homing
pigeon get back with our message?"

"Oh, yes."

"Then all you parents were easy about our safety."

"Quite. But I can't tell you how worried I was when I heard of your
adventures with that terrible thief."

"He didn't bother us much, mother. We were small boys, but there were
too many of us."

"But suppose he had shot one of you?"

"He didn't have any firearms, mother, until one of the officers made the
mistake of throwing a pistol at him."

Then Dick had to go over all the adventures of the snowbound days.

"As soon as I clear up here," said Mrs. Prescott, "I'm going down into
the store and tell your father some of the exciting things you've been
telling me. And I know, Richard, that you're anxious to get out on the
street and see some of your schoolmates. So run along."

Dick had not been out five minutes before he encount