point."

Jet was so eager to be off that he did most of the work himself, and
Jim promised to take the first trick at the oars.

"Don't pull very fast; I only want to keep them in sight," Jet
explained, as he shoved the light craft off and leaped into the
stern-sheets.

"You steer, and tell me when we're coming too near, for I can't keep
lookin' around. Say, what game are you up to?"

"I don't understand you."

"I reckon you know what I mean. Why do you wanter keep on the track of
that boat?"

"I just had an idea, that's all. They are going without a guide, and
I'd like to see how they'll come out."

"There's plenty of them kind of fellers who think they can save money
by workin' it alone; but they don't travel very far. What's your other
reason?"

Unquestionably Jim was suspicious, and Jet began to study the question
of how much he could tell him, for it would soon be necessary to make
some more definite explanation.

While he was thus trying to decide, the small guide continued to ply
him with questions, until he came to the conclusion that the best plan
would be to give a portion of the story, otherwise, in case he met the
men, Jim might ask them to solve the riddle.

"If you'll cross your throat never to tell a living person till we get
out of the woods again, I'll let you into the secret, and what's more,
I'll agree to give you twenty dollars, if this job is finished up
right."

"Twenty dollars!" the boy repeated, in surprise. "What do you want me
to do?" and he turned to look at the boat.

"Nothing just at present but row slowly without turning around. Will
you agree not to tell anybody?"

"Of course, an' I'd do a good deal more'n that to earn so much money."

"Then here it is, and if you breathe a single word I wouldn't wonder if
you got into jail. I've been hired to watch them fellows till officers
can get here and arrest them."

"Then you're a reg'lar detective," Jim cried, breathlessly.

"Hold your tongue, or everybody on the lake will hear you. I ain't
anything of the kind. Didn't I say I'd only been hired to watch them
so's to let the officers know where they stop?"

"What have they been doing?"

"I don't reckon it's very much; but somebody in Albany seems to think
it'll pay to catch them."

"Why didn't the constables come with you?"

"Because nobody but me knew they'd started for this place. It the men
make a camp we can send back word; but if they have the least little