age stops."

"I can show you any time," the boy replied, carelessly; but he obeyed
the injunction, and in a few moments after the public conveyance rolled
away the amateur detective was following it.

CHAPTER XXII

THE SMALL GUIDE

The driver of the vehicle which Jet had hired did not seem disposed to
push his sorry-looking horse to his utmost speed, and the boy
experienced no slight amount of mental anxiety through fear that the
men would escape him.

Once they entered the woods without his having some idea of their
course, the chase would be well-nigh hopeless.

His small guide commenced the process of becoming acquainted by asking
Jet's name.

"David Small," was the prompt reply. "What's your's?"

"Jim Crosby."

Then Jet was obliged to explain considerably more about himself; he
said he lived in Albany, sold news papers there, and, having laid by a
little money, concluded to see what the Adirondack region looked like.

"If you don't have to go back too soon, I'll show you the whole place,"
Jim replied, with an air of profound wisdom such as one might have
expected from the oldest inhabitant in the vicinity.

Then the small guide went on to explain where he proposed to take his
friend and patron, and before his recital was finished the wagon
stopped at the lake side.

Here everything was in a state of seeming confusion. Sportsmen and
tourists were setting out for their respective destinations; but Jet
had no thought for any, save the two he had followed so far.

"You hire a boat, and I'll stay here," he said to Jim, who hurried
away, leaving him where he could see all who left the shore by the
water-way.

Again fortune favored him.

Bob and Sam had just concluded their arrangements for a craft, and were
loading it not more than twenty yards away.

Before Jim returned they had started alone.

These two who thought more of hiding themselves than of hunting or
fishing, did not need a guide.

Jet kept his eyes fixed on them as they rowed leisurely down the lake,
and when Jim returned, he said:

"See here, can't we keep about half a mile behind those fellows?"

"What do you want to do that for? They won't know where to find the
best sport."

"I've got a particular reason for wanting to see where they stop, an'
will make it worth your while."

"Oh, that's all right, I don't want to be paid for anything of the
kind! Come on an' help me put this stuff aboard before they get around
the