nt the telegram, and
intended to wait for us, therefore it was only natural to suppose some
of the crowd had got the best of you. When we heard the row both of us
hurried from the depot, thinking you were in some way the cause of it."

"I was afraid you might leave when I failed to show up."

"Not much. On such a job as this we'd have stayed here more than one
day before jumping back."

During the last portion of the journey, Jet dozed as he rode along,
forcing himself to open his eyes now and then to make certain he was on
the right course, and it was while he was thus in a semi-conscious
condition that a shout from a clump of bushes told the tramp was nearly
at an end.

"That is Mr. Harvey," Jet cried, gleefully, all desire for slumber gone
from his eyelids now.

CHAPTER XVI

ON THE TRAIL.

The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers
were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two
men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

"I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my
boy. After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been
strange if you had failed at the last minute."

"He didn't tell us that it was him who took the fellow prisoner," one
of the men said, in surprise.

"But he did it nevertheless, and I would trust him as far as any person
I ever saw."

Then the men held a short consultation as to what should be done, and
Harvey insisted on making a detour, in order to approach the house on
the side opposite where he believed the enemy were stationed.

"If you help me on the horse I can ride," he said, "and it will be
possible to hold communication with the besieged, if nothing more."

"But you should go where your wound can be dressed properly."

"There is time enough for that. I want to get hold of Bob, and then
I'll give you fellows a chance to clear up the counterfeiting case."

Since Harvey was really the leader of the expedition, the others could
do no more than advise against his engaging in work, and he led the
way, seated on the saddle, with his wounded leg fastened to the pommel
in such a manner that it would not be injured by the trees while they
were passing through the woods.

In due time the party came to a point from which the building could be
seen.

A deep silence reigned. One would have said the house had long been
deserted.

"I'll go where they can see me, and, if no one sho