pous tone. "I am an officer of justice,
and must do my duty. This fellow was clearly concerned in the theft of
Mocker's gun and boat, and what he did before or after that don't wipe
out the crime. Why, if I'd turn him loose now I'd be compoundin' a
felony. Of course I'll speak a good word for him when he comes up for
trial--I'll promise you that--and it may lessen his sentence."

"Jeffries is right," said the farmer. "If a man will commit crimes he
must suffer for them. Both fellows air guilty, no doubt."

Bug threw a grateful glance at Ned, and then turned appealingly to
Hocker.

"I don't deny that I was with Moxley when he broke into your cabin," he
said huskily, "but I was only with him because I wanted to help these
boys. I couldn't leave him without spoilin' my plans, and I couldn't
persuade him to let the cabin alone, though I tried hard enough. He gave
me the slip next morning, as it was, an' I had to tramp it down the
creek the rest of the way. It's purty hard fer a feller to get into a
scrape like this under them circumstances."

Hocker's face wore a perplexed expression as he replied slowly:

"I'm sure I don't know what to say. Jeffries has the law at his finger
ends, and it ain't fur me to contradict him. I reckon things will have
to take their course."

Bug's hopeless looks and attitude went straight to Ned's heart, and he
resolved to make a final appeal in his behalf. He was satisfied that
Hocker would help him if he could be made to see the matter in its
proper light, so he drew him aside and told all he knew about Bug in a
simple, earnest way--dwelling especially on the fact that Bug's desire
to keep the boys out of a scrape was the sole cause of his own
misfortune.

The appeal carried conviction with it, and Hocker's sympathies were
aroused.

"I reckon I can fix this matter," he said after a little consideration.
"I owe you lads something anyhow, and this is a good time to pay the
debt."

Hocker was as good as his word. He walked over to the boat and surprised
Jeffries by saying in a grave tone, "Look here, old man; I've sorter
veered round on this thing. Now that I've got Moxley safe and sound I
don't intend to prosecute the other chap. I reckon what he says is true,
an' you know yourself what he did fur us to-night--more than you or me
would have done. He deserves to go free."

"Well, if you're determined not to make a charge, why that settles it,"
replied Jeffries a little stiffly. "I hav