w the things on the ground.

"It's about time you brought 'em back," snapped Hi, making a dive
for his belongings.

"I had a good mind not to do it at all," retorted Teall hotly.

"You'd have found yourself in hot water if you hadn't done it,"
Hi declared testily, as, having drawn on his underclothing, he
seated himself to lace up his shoes. Then he rose and reached
for his trousers.

"See here, Ted Teall," cried Hi suddenly, holding the trousers
forward, "what did you do with my gold watch that was in the pocket
of these trousers."

"I didn't see your old watch," grumbled Ted.

"Then you lost it out of the pocket while running through the
woods, did you?" insisted Hi angrily.

Teall felt cold sweat come out on his neck and forehead. Well
enough did he remember the gold watch, which was the envy of most
of the schoolboys in Gridley. Nor was there any denying the fact
that the watch was absent.

"Honest, Hi; honest," he faltered. "I didn't see the watch at all."

"You've got to find it, just the same," retorted Martin stubbornly.
"If you take things away and lose them you've got to find them,
or make good for them. Now, Mr. Smarty, I'm going home, and you're
going to find the watch."

"Say, you might help a fellow and be decent about it," pleaded
Ted.

"I didn't lose the watch, and I won't help you look for it," snapped
back Hi Martin, as he strode away. "But if you aren't at my home
with that gold watch before dark to-night, then you may look for
things to happen to you! Find the watch, or wait and see what
the law will do to you, Mr. Ted Smarty!"

Right on the spot Ted Teall started to look, a feeling of dull
but intense misery gnawing in his breast.

"Oh, gracious! But now I've gone and done it!" groaned Teall,
beginning to shake in his shoes. "Now, I'm in a whole peck and
half of trouble, for I'll never be lucky enough to find that watch
again!"

Chapter XI

TED FEELS THE FLARE-BACK

Ted didn't find the watch, nor did the men searchers get anywhere
near a reliable trail of Amos Garwood.

As for Dick & Co., they aided in the search for a while, then
went home to supper, feeling that they had done their present
duty as well as boys might do it.

Ted Teall slunk home considerably after dark. Fortunately, as
it happened, his parents didn't force him to tell his reason for
being late, but Ted sat down to a supper that was cold and all
but tasteless. However, Teall could find no fault wit