deal of this talk drifted to the ears of the Rover twins and
hurt them not a little. But they were in no position to combat what was
said.

"Of course we know Jack and Fred are innocent," remarked Randy to his
brother. "But in a court of law it is one thing to know it and quite
another thing to prove it."

"Yet I've always heard it said that a man was innocent until he was
proved guilty," asserted Andy.

"Very true. Just the same, many a man has been convicted on what they
call circumstantial evidence; and evidently the circumstantial evidence
against Jack and Fred is pretty strong."

In the guardroom the time for Jack and Fred passed slowly. They
discussed the situation from every possible point of view, but without
arriving at any satisfactory conclusion.

"Even if they don't send us to prison for the crime, they may make our
fathers' pay for the cows," said Jack.

"Yes. And Colonel Colby may send us home," added Fred, dismally. "Oh,
dear! wouldn't that be the worst ever?" and he sank down on the cot and
covered his face with his hands.

It was Martell and Brown, aided by Codfish, who saw to it that the
report of Jack and Fred's arrest was carried to Clearwater Hall. This
brought consternation to the girls, particularly to Ruth and May.

"I won't believe it!" declared Ruth. "I don't believe Jack and Fred
would be so mean."

"I don't believe it either!" cried Spouter's cousin. "Somebody else
must have done it!"

In the middle of the afternoon Colonel Colby returned to the Hall and
was at once acquainted with the affair by Captain Dale. The colonel was
on the point of questioning the two prisoners when a servant came in,
announcing the arrival of Elias Lacy. The farmer was as wildly excited
as he had been in the morning.

"I knowed I was right!" he cried, flourishing a letter in the colonel's
face. "Here's something I got to prove it! It come by mail this mornin'
when I was bringin' them young whelps over here. I put the letter in my
pocket, an' I forgot all about it until an hour ago. Jest read that,
will you?" and he thrust the communication into Colonel Colby's hand.

The letter was postmarked at Beach Haven, and had been mailed the
evening previous. It was written in a slanting backhand, evidently
disguised, and ran as follows:

"Dear Mr. Lacy:

"Your two cows were shot by Jack Rover and Fred Rover. They were
out in the woods hunting when we saw them go towards your pasture
lot. W