t does this mean? The small
track has dropped out altogether," remarked William.

"That is where the big fellow picks the boy up in his arms, and is
carrying him," said Wallace, before Paul could answer.

"Right you are, that is just what happened. To tell the truth I don't
know why he didn't do that before. He must have been toting some bundle
along, and couldn't well carry the boy too. Come back a bit. I want to
look around," and Paul retraced his steps until he had reached the spot
where a confusion of tracks met his gaze.

He followed the man's trail a few paces, and found himself under a tree.
Raising his lantern he carefully examined the bark of the trunk, and
finding several fresh scratches, pursued his investigations still higher.

One accommodating limb grew rather low. In fact a man could, by reaching
up his arms, clasp it easily; and that was what Paul believed had been
done.

"Give me a push, somebody; and then hand up my lantern," he said,
clasping his arms about the tree as well as he was able.

Ten seconds later William was handing him up the light; after which Paul
began to ascend slowly, looking about him as though constantly on the
watch for signs that would tell another had preceded him.

"All right; it's here. I'm coming down, fellows," he soon called out.

Reaching that friendly lower limb he held something in view.

"Take hold of this, Bobolink, and handle it carefully, because we don't
know what's in the package. It might be dynamite!" he remarked.

"Oh! I hope not!" exclaimed the one in whose arms the bundle reposed; and
he did not look any too happy at the prospect ahead.

"Don't be silly," said Paul, as he dropped beside them. "But whatever
it may be, we might as well hide it in a new place. Then if the fellow
should come back here to get it, he's going to meet with a
disappointment, that's all."

"But what d'ye think it is?" argued the one who clasped the large package
in his arms, though with evident reluctance.

"That is none of our business just now. It may be honest enough, and we'd
get into a peck of trouble if we peeked. So let's just chuck it in some
hollow stump as we go along, and muffle our trail behind us so he can't
find where we put it. Later on I think I know some one who will be glad
to look into what it contains."

"Perhaps I do too," remarked Jack; and the two chums looked at each
other, with mutual astonishment marked on their faces.

"Oh!" remarked Paul, "ar