e, bending over, searched carefully, and at length got some
light on the subject.

"Somebody cut the cords," he said. "Look here--and here!" and he pointed
out fragments of the strong cord with which the captive had been bound.

"That's so. Do you think he did it himself?" asked Philip,
disappointed.

"No; he was too securely tied. I took care of that. Somebody came along
and released him."

"I hope he had to stay all night, at any rate," said Philip.

"That we cannot discover at present. One thing is certain--he's free."

"I'm sorry I came," muttered Philip. "I have had this long walk for
nothing."

"You haven't had the satisfaction of releasing him, I suppose, you
mean?"

"No, I don't. I wanted to see how he looked. It's too bad he got away."

"There's nothing for it but to go back," said Congreve. "You'd better
look out for him. He may want to pay you off."

"He'd better not try it," said Philip, but he seemed uneasy at the
thought.

On their way back they passed, unconsciously, near the place where the
tin box was concealed.

Hovering near the spot was Ralph Temple, uneasy for the safety of the
buried treasure.

He eyed the two young fellows with suspicion. They had no guns in their
hands, and he could not understand what object they had in coming to
this out-of-the-way place so early in the morning.

"What are you about here?" he demanded, roughly.

Philip was frightened and turned pale; but James Congreve only surveyed
the man curiously, and said:

"Is that any business of yours, my friend?"

"You'll find out whether it's any business of mine," returned Temple,
angrily.

"That's precisely what I would like to find out," said Congreve, coolly.
"You accost us as if you were the owner of the wood, which, I take it,
you are not."

"Do you want me to wring your neck, young man?" said Temple, with a
growl.

"Oh, don't make him angry, James!" begged Philip, nervously, laying his
hand on Congreve's arm.

James--who certainly was not a coward--surveyed his companion
contemptuously.

"Much obliged to you for your kind offer," said he, addressing Temple,
"but I must decline it."

"You've got too long a tongue, young man!" said Temple, provoked by the
other's coolness. "I've a mind to teach you a lesson."

"When I want one I will let you know," said Congreve, changing his tone
and manner and regarding the other scornfully.

"Meanwhile, my man, I advise you not to drink so early in the mornin