put forth his utmost speed in the hope of overtaking him.

"You'll pay for this, boy!" he growled.

But Ernest did not mean to be caught. Being a fast runner for a boy of his
size, he bade fair to outdistance his pursuer. But directly in his path
was an excavation of considerable size and depth. Ernest paused on the
brink to consider whether to descend the sloping sides or to go round it.
The delay was fatal. The tramp saw his advantage, and pushing forward
seized him by the collar.

"I've caught you!" he cried triumphantly. "Now give me the money!"

There was a brief struggle, but a boy, even a strong boy, was no match for
a man taller and heavier than himself. The gold pieces were snatched from
him, and the tramp, releasing his hold, was about to make off in triumph
when he found himself seized in turn.

"Why, you contemptible thief!" exclaimed Luke Robbins--for it was he whose
opportune coming had saved Ernest from being plundered. "Are you trying to
rob the boy?"

He seized the tramp by the collar, forced him to give up the gold he had
just snatched from Ernest and flung him on his back.

The tramp's surprise deepened to dismay when, looking up, he saw the
stalwart hunter with stern face looking down upon him.

"It was my money," he whined.

"Your money, you owdacious liar! Don't tell me that or I'll treat you
worse!"

"But it was. I had hidden it under a tree. I came along just as the boy
dug it up. I told him to give it to me, for it was mine, but he wouldn't,
and then I chased him."

"What's the truth of the matter, Ernest?" asked Luke.

"It was money that Peter Brant had hidden away. He told me on his
death-bed where to look for it."

"I thought it was Peter's."

"I had just dug it up and put it in my pocket when this man came along. He
ordered me to give it to him."

"Did he say he hid it there?"

"No. He said that Peter owed him money, and he wanted it."

"You appear to be a very ingenious liar," remarked Luke, turning to the
tramp. "Which of these stories do you want me to believe?"

"I hid it there!" said the tramp doggedly.

"Then why did you tell the boy that Peter owed you money?"

"Because I didn't think he would believe that I hid it."

"You are right there. He don't believe it, nor do I. One thing more--were
you the man that broke into his cabin and stole two gold pieces from his
trunk?"

"No. I don't know anything about it."

"Of course you would deny it. All the same I ha