ing the impression in the mind of a possible observer that they
were strangers to one another. He knew perfectly well that if a watch
had been kept upon them there could be no doubt in the minds of the
watchers that the four men grouped around the fire were unknown to one
another.

But here were eight burly men grouped around them, each standing in a
position so that he could make himself extremely dangerous on the
instant should he choose to do so. And there was no telling how many
more might be concealed out there in the darkness of the woods around
them.

It is not the fashion among yeggmen to welcome an addition to their
party, no matter whether that addition is composed of one or of many.
Sullen silence is the rule at first, during which each man studies the
others. Suspicion is always the first impulse at such meetings. Their
attitudes are exactly that of strange dogs which encounter each other
for the first time, and walk round and round, with the hair on their
backs raised, and with their tails straight out, every nerve on a
tension, and every impulse prepared for mortal combat.

And people who have watched dogs while they go through with these
mannerisms know that it requires only a few moments for them to
determine whether they will be friends or foes, or if they will only
politely tolerate the presence of each other on the scene.

So Nick Carter sat silent, making no movement, save to puff vigorously
at the short pipe he was smoking; and so the others of his party did
likewise; for the forces of the newcomers were much stronger.

This tableau--if tableau it could be called, continued for five minutes,
and then one of the late arrivals cast aside the stub of a cigar he was
smoking, and broke the silence.

"Where might you hoboes be from?" he demanded, in an even tone, and
without a gesture of any kind.

Nobody made any reply whatever to this question, and after a moment he
spoke again.

"Which one of you is the leader of this outfit?" he asked.

Again nobody replied to him; the assistants kept silent because they
well knew that their chief would answer if he considered it wise to do
so; and Nick remained silent merely because he did not consider that it
was yet time to speak.

And now the spokesman of the other party addressed himself directly to
Nick Carter, as being, doubtless, the fiercest and most
villainous-looking one of the bunch.

"You heard me, didn't you?" he demanded.

"Yes; I heard