-great Heavens!"

The exclamation was caused by the sight of Tim Brophy, who stepped from
behind the shelter and walked toward him.

Young Starr was astounded, and believed for a minute that his friend had
been put forward as a decoy, and that his captors were immediately
behind him. But that dread was removed the next moment by the appearance
of the young Irishman, who, advancing jauntily, called out in his cheery
voice:

"It's all roight, me boy! None of the spalpeens are here, and it's
mesilf that would like to shake ye by the hand."

That the two warmly grasped hands and greeted each other need not be
stated. Even then Warren could only murmur:

"Why, Tim, this is the greatest surprise of my life! Where in the name
of the seven wonders did you come from? and how came you to give them
the slip?"

"It was that which helped me out," replied the other, holding up his
clenched fist; "it b'ats all other wippons whin ye git into a tight
corner."

Not until the fellow had told his story could the other comprehend the
amazing truth. Then he saw how a marvellous combination of
circumstances had helped him, and how cleverly the quick-witted youth
had turned them to account.

"I must shake hands with you again," responded the delighted Warren. "I
never knew of anything more remarkable."

"Ye didn't think ye could give me any hilp," chuckled Tim, "but ye did
it all the same."

"How?"

"Haven't I told ye that the little circus ye opened out on the plain
drew away all the spalpeens but the single one lift to look after me?
And don't ye understand that ye made things so interesting that he
forgot me until I reminded him I was there by giving him a welt under
the ear that he won't forgit in a dog's age?"

"I see; but I never dreamed of any such result as that."

"Nor did I, but it came all the same, and sarved me as will as if ye had
fixed up the whole business."

Noticing the strange weapon in his hand Warren referred to it, and then
received the whole story.

"Well, it beats anything I ever heard of. Jack isn't far off, and we can
use him as we did before."

"And may I ask what ye are doing here so close to the spalpeens, whin ye
ought to be miles away?"

"I set out to learn whether that fire whose smoke we saw was started by
father or not. I didn't think so when you and I were talking it over,
but can't rid myself of the suspicion till I find out for myself."

Tim nodded his head, and said:

"Yis; it wa