farmhouse on the mill pond. He was induced to suspect this
because the last time they had examined the small shoeprints, the mark of
a much larger foot had appeared beside it; and after mature deliberation
he and Wallace came to the conclusion that some man, walking through the
forest, had discovered the trail of the child, _and was following it_!

He looked around him. As near as he could tell every one of the tired
scouts was slumbering soundly.

So Paul silently arose, touching Jack on the shoulder, who immediately
gave Wallace Carberry the signal.

The three uttered no word, but moving softly back from the circle of
firelight, carrying their almost exhausted lanterns, made ready to once
more start out into the depths of the wood; with the lonely farmhouse now
rented by the surly Sol Smithers just half a mile further to the north!

CHAPTER XXVI

WHAT WOODCRAFT TOLD

"There it is again, Paul!"

"As sure as you live we're being followed, boys!" and Wallace allowed his
voice to rise just above a hoarse whisper when he made this energetic
remark.

The three were crouching in the bushes.

As yet Paul had not caught a glimpse of the object which seemed to
disturb both of his friends; but he was looking sharply now.

"Why, yes, I do believe you are right, fellows," he said, calmly.

"Well, you take it mighty cool, I must say," declared Jack.

"Because I see no reason to get flurried over such a little thing, boys,"
was what the leader replied.

"Little thing, when you know Ted Slavin and a bunch of his toadies came
up here to get all the glory they could out of this business! Don't you
understand, Paul, that if they thought they could down us, they'd just as
lief waylay us in the woods, and put an end to all our expectations?"

This was a very unusual way of talking for Wallace, but it only went to
show how the boy was worked up over the situation, and made nervous by
the continuous strain.

"But how do you know those moving figures are Ted and Ward, or even any
of that crowd?" demanded Paul.

The others hesitated, and finally Jack remarked:

"Well, for a fact we don't know; but you remember we saw signs that even
you declared proved what I'm saying--that some of those fellows have
wandered as far as this."

"Yes, that's a fact. I'm not apt to forget it. Now, how many figures have
you seen dodging along back there, just as if they didn't care to be
seen--yet?"

"How about it, Wallace?" querie