go," the boy began, "father fell from a ledge of rock near
our hiding place and injured his head. I have taken as good care of him
as I could, but it was impossible for me to remain with him all the
time, because I had to fish and hunt and provide food for both of us."

"You're welcome to any provisions we have," said Will, feeling genuine
sympathy for the boy.

"That isn't the point now," Chester went on.

"While I was in your camp last night waiting, for the chance to steal
provisions to take back to father, he left the hiding place. I know he's
out of his head, and so I believe him to be wandering about the hills in
a demented condition. There's no knowing what will happen to him if he
is not found and placed in hiding again. I want you to go and help me
find him. The detectives who came in last night, or some time yesterday,
are here to take him back to prison, and they're likely to get him at
any minute if he continues to wander about while insane from the recent
injury to his head. There's no one to help me but you. Will you go?"

Here was the very chance the Boy Scouts had been waiting for.

CHAPTER VII

ARRESTED AS SPIES

"Of course, we'll go with you!" replied Will, in answer to the boy's
anxious question. "Do you think anything can be done tonight?"

"I think we ought to begin the search tonight," replied Chester. "One of
father's hobbies is the campfire. It is my idea that if he has matches
he will build himself a rousing fire, if he comes to dry wood. If he
doesn't do this, he's likely to make his way to the first campfire he
sees. I was in hopes that he'd come here."

Will called his chums into the tent for a general discussion of the
matter, Chester remaining just outside the fire line. The boy seemed to
have a mortal fear of being watched and followed.

Before entering fully into the conference, Will carried a liberal supper
out to the hungry boy. Chester said that he had eaten very little since
disposing of the provisions taken from the camp. Owing to the sudden
disappearance of his father, he had not had time to hunt and fish. Will
thought he had never seen a boy eat so industriously.

"Why don't he come into the tent," queried Tommy, as Will returned.

"He's afraid some one's watching the camp," was the reply.

"What if there is some one watching the camp," Tommy insisted, "they'll
see something's going on and follow us when we go away with Chester. So
he might just as well come o