"I was thinking that possibly somebody robbed you while you were
unconscious."

"Perhaps that is so, Pep. I'd like to see that man."

"You never saw him before?"

"Not that I can remember."

"Would you know him if you saw him again?

"I don't know about that. I didn't have much time to look at him. I was
busy trying to escape being hit by the tree branches."

"You must have been lying on the road five or ten minutes before we
found you," pursued Pepper. "If that stranger was a rascal he would have
had plenty of time to go through your pockets. I don't see how riding
could make you lose all those things at once."

"If he robbed me, I'd like to get hold of him," cried Andy.

"More than likely, if he did rob you, he'll take good care to keep out
of your reach."

"What of the horse? Did they catch him?"

"Not yet. Most likely he left the road after he got tired of running and
wandered into the woods. He was a valuable animal and Captain Putnam is
worried about him."

"Will he hold me for that loss?"

"I don't think so--you didn't run away with him--he ran away with you."

The report of the loss of Andy's valuables was thoroughly circulated
around Putnam Hall and Cedarville, and a reward of ten dollars for the
return of the things was posted.

The next day a farmer named John Lane, who lived not far from the
school, appeared there, riding on the back of the runaway Jim. The horse
looked much subdued and was covered with burrs.

"I was out in the woods with my son Bill, when we ran across the horse,"
explained John Lane. "I knew him right away as the animal that had
belonged to Jerry Toller. I asked Jerry about it and he said he had
sold the horse to you, so I brought him here."

"You are very kind, Mr. Lane," replied Captain Putnam. "I'd like to pay
you for your trouble."

"Oh, that's all right, Captain Putnam," responded the farmer. "Glad to
do you a good turn."

"Thank you very much. Any time I can do you a good turn, let me know."

"Well, you might buy some of my extra hay, and extra potatoes. I've got
some prime hay, and the best potatoes ever grown in these parts, and
I'll sell 'em at regular market prices."

"Then I'll take all I can use, Mr. Lane," answered the captain, and a
little later a bargain was struck, not alone for the hay and potatoes,
but also for some turnips, cabbages, and table celery.

"What that horse needs is exercise," said John Lane, on departing. "Give
him a few miles eve