by way of emphasizing the
point) "we have been upholding the majesty av the law and the rights av
free-born American citizens, and yez have just missed putting the
bracelets on as ugly a pair av villains as iver stole the furs av honest
men."

A light broke over the sheriffs face. "Big Pierre and his Injun
partner!" he exclaimed. "I was tipped off that they were somewhere about
here, and that's what brought me in. Where are they now?"

"Hitting the trail for parts unknown," replied Pat. "We'll tell you
about it later. Meanwhile here are some friends of mine you ought to
know and keep an eye on, Bill. They'll bear watching."

He then introduced the three boys. Sparrer still clung to his prize,
and as he came forward to shake hands Jim and the warden sensed for the
first time what it was he was carrying.

"By gum!" exclaimed Jim. "I believe that's the very fellow I was telling
you about, Bill. Saw him the last time I was over here. Did you trap
him, Pat, or is he part of the spoils of war?"

"Wrong both ways, Jim," replied Pat. "He was the cause of this little
expedition. Come on in and while we are rustling up some grub we'll tell
you the yarn."

Jim and the warden listened with growing interest and appreciation while
Pat unfolded the story. When it ended the warden gravely arose and
walked over to Sparrer. "Shake hands over again, son," said he, to the
boy's great confusion. "If I had had to sit still and watch a fortune
trot around the way you did I sure would have been so plumb shaky that
I'd have missed the shot when the time came. What are you going to do
with him now that you've got him?"

Thus did the warden bring to a head a question that had been troubling
the boy ever since the fox was recovered. "He ain't mine," he gulped.
"Oi lost him, and wouldn't never seen him again if it hadn't been fer
dem." He nodded in the direction of Pat and Alec. "He's theirs, an' dey
ain't no use talkin' about it." Sparrer set his lips firmly.

In an instant Pat and Alec were on their feet, protesting that such talk
was foolishness, and that the prize belonged to Sparrer and no one else.
But the boy shook his head stubbornly.

"Seems to me," drawled the warden when he could make himself heard,
"that this here is a case for a disinterested party to decide. Now if
you was to ask me I should say that an even split, fifty-fifty, is the
fair thing. This here young tenderfoot comes up here with horseshoes or
rabbit's-feet or