o view.

Garry, rescuing his coat and rifle, slid down the tree and hailed him
with the all important question as to whether he had found what they
came in search of.

"Bet you I did," promptly responded Dick, when the question had been
put. "They came in a clump almost. First the two chaps you described,
and about five minutes after, LeBlanc and Green breezed by, not letting
any grass grow under their feet. I've marked the spot well, and have
located a good trail all the way, using private signs of our own that
would be meaningless even to a woodsman familiar with all trail markings
and signs. Fact I discovered one or two unfamiliar trail signs, that I
could not recognize, and I believe they are the ones put there by a
smuggler band. I'm pretty certain that is the regular trail used. Are
you stiff? Believe me, that is the last tree sentry duty I want for a
long time to come. I'd as soon sit two hours on a telegraph wire as the
limb of a tree. Let's hike after Phil and return to town. Guess we've
done all that we can."

"Yes, nothing remains now to be done except wait for the big doings
Saturday night. Let's go, and keep a sharp lookout all the time. By the
way, how near did they pass to you?"

"Not more than twenty feet above where I was located. Evidently they do
not cut a straight line from the farm, but slant a little, unless our
reckoning was a bit off. It is likely that they swerve a bit, because
there may be a pathway across the farm that they use to get here.
Believe me, I held my breath as they went by, although there was little
danger of their seeing me. I strained my ears to see what they might be
talking about, but could get nothing, as they talked in a low tone,"
answered Dick.

In a few minutes they had come to where Phil was perched, and he
clambered down and met them. They told him the latest developments, and
then struck out for town.

"I'm all in for a little sleep. I move we go back to Everetts', and ask
them to loan us a couch or a bed or something for a couple of hours or
so. I believe I could sleep for a year."

"That's a good idea. Mr. Everett said that we were to consider the house
as headquarters until the game was bagged, so there would be no danger
of our running into a scrape and spoiling the plans," remarked Garry.

The thought of a nap made them hasten their steps, and soon they were
back at the house. Ruth admitted them, and after telling her and her
grandfather of their success,