g double," jeered William; "the coffee
must have gone to his head. We'll have to remember next time, and make
him a cup of grandmother tea."

Paul had something to think over. In connection with the strange robbery
of the feed-man's place, and the queer actions of Mr. Clausin then and
since, it was little wonder that the young scout leader connected this
new event with the other.

He tried to figure it out, but all seemed a blank. No doubt, if he could
at some time coax Joe to confess who it was he believed this stranger to
be, who was in the vehicle, and who looked back so often as he whipped
his tired horse, the puzzle might not appear quite so dense.

But Joe was apparently in no mood just then for any confession. He
seemed to have set his teeth firmly together, as though determined that
not one of his comrades must learn the slightest thing about his
troubles.

Paul tried to picture the face of the man as he had caught it in that
one rapid glimpse. Had he ever known him? There _did_ seem to be some
little familiar look about his expression; but try as he would he could
not seem to place the other just then.

But Joe knew; Joe was not in a maze of doubt; and the knowledge did not
seem to have given the Clausin boy any great pleasure either; which made
the enigma all the more like a tangle to Paul.

Again the Banner Boy Scouts set forth. After the rest, and a little
attention paid to their aching feet the cripples were able to keep up
with the rest for an hour or so. By degrees they would perhaps become
hardened to this sort of work. When a boy has never done much steady
walking it comes tough for a time. He may be used to playing all day,
but that means a change of action. It is the steady grind, hour after
hour, that tells on his lower extremities, until they get hardened to
the test.

At three they came upon the river, and Paul understood that it would be
more or less of a companion to their march from that time on.

Every fellow greeted it with delight. It seemed like an old friend,
because they had been accustomed to skating on its frozen surface, and
bathing in its pellucid depths, year after year.

"Don't it look good to meet with a familiar friend, though?" cried
Bobolink taking off his hat, and making a most respectful bow in the
direction of the gurgling water.

"Listen, would you?" scoffed William, always ready to get in a sly dig
at his comrade; "to hear him talk you'd think we'd been away from