People always do, Jimmie," Jack said, as he looked around to
locate the best place where they could hide, and still be within reach
of the spot.

"Right ye are," chuckled the other; "and especially whin they run
aginst Jack Stormways."

"Listen, Jimmie," the other went on. "I've just thought of something.
Look up, and you'll see that the tree is thick just above the place
where the two babes in the wood are sleeping so sweetly. Now, if one
of us chanced to be hiding up there, it would be the easiest thing in
the world to drop down on the back of the chap as he threw himself on
the dummy. How does that strike you?"

Jimmie shrugged his shoulders.

"If ye say the worrd, it's me that will climb up the tree, and lie low.
And sure they used to say Jimmie Brannagan was a born monkey all but
the tail, so they did."

"Then climb now," said Jack, "and keep as quiet as a mouse there, or
sharp eyes might spy you. Remember, when I shout the word, drop like a
brick on the nearest fellow, and be sure you flatten him out, even if
you have to use the stick!"

He watched the Irish boy mount the body of the tree and clamber out
along the limb that hung some ten feet from the ground, until he was
directly over the spot where the two motionless figures lay under the
blankets.

"That will do, Jimmie. You are well hidden there. Quiet now, and
wait!" and with this whisper Jack left the open spot.

In seeking a hiding place he had two things in mind besides
concealment. One was to keep close to the place where the fire burned
lower and lower, so that when the proper time came he could be there to
do his part in the program. The other lay in the line of keeping the
boat under observation, for fear lest the enemy creep aboard and cause
an explosion of some sort that would simply ruin them.

The minutes passed slowly. Jack had to guess at the flight of time;
but it certainly seemed to have wings of lead. Still, an hour had
surely gone, and as yet all was still.

He wondered whether Jimmie could have been mistaken about seeing and
hearing the two bank thieves? Jimmie had something of a vivid
imagination; but then Jack had never known him to make a blunder of
this sort.

Ah! was that really a rustle he had heard just then? To tell the truth
it did seem to spring from the quarter where he expected danger to
appear. Jack raised his eyes for one last look at the hiding place of
his confederate. All seemed as peaceful as