le
'll be back with that war'nt afore night. I'd make myself skeerce if I
was in your shoes."

"O Sylvanus!" ejaculated Tryphosa.

"O Timotheus!" added Tryphosa.

"It's a lie!" cried Rufus; "it's a mill dam, boom jam, coffer-dam lie,
and I won't believe a word of it."

"Fact all the same," said Mr. Pawkins, calmly, "they air guilty, the two
on 'em, of stealin' aout o' the Peskiwanchow ho-tel."

"What did they steal out?" asked the Richards boys.

"Clothes, I guess, boots, some money, books, I don't know all what, and
it don't consarn me any; but them boys had best look spry and git aout
o' this." With these words, the gentleman of American extraction
finished his last piece of pie.

Sylvanus rose cheerfully. He was so radiant over it that Tryphena
thought him really handsome. He whispered to Rufus and to Ben; then
remarked to Timotheus that he had perhaps better remain, in case the
Squire should send for him. Next, he turned to Mr. Pawkins, and said: "A
man mought as well be hung fer a sheep as fer a lamb, Mr. Pawkins, and
sence they's a warn't out to 'raist me and Timotheus, we ain't a goin'
to put the law to no more trouble 'bout a new one. Ef you'll come
outside, I'll show you some o' them things we stoled out'n the
Peskiwanchow tav." So Sylvanus took the accuser of the brethren by one
arm, and Rufus linked his lovingly in the other, while Ben, with a
glance of intelligence at Serlizer, and another at his top boots,
followed. Mr. Pawkins, confident in his smartness and in the ignorance
of the simple-minded Canucks, went quietly with the courteous criminal
and his cut-out friend, till, passing the stables, they led him through
a broad gate into the meadow. Then he hesitated.

"The stoled things, leastways some on 'em, 'll be at the foot o' this
yere slope soon's we will; so hurry, old man!" said Sylvanus. Mr.
Pawkins demurred. "Look here, boys," he said, "a joke's a joke, ain't
it? D'ye see, you did, the pair on you, steal aout of the hotel. I
didn't go to say you took anythin' as didn't belong to you. I reckon
your brother had clothes, and money, and books thar, and so, you and him
took 'em aout. Lem me go, boys!"

Sylvanus and Rufus were obdurate. "Boost him, Ben," cried the former:
"we ain't no time ter spend foolin' with the likes o' him."

Mr. Toner raised his boot and said, "One fer Serlizer!" which made the
joker proceed. He had several other ones, before he was run down to the
creek--for Timotheus