t mental anxiety.

"Now they have called one of the other men over, and all four of them
are going through the motions of a conversation. Now Newcombe has taken
some money out of his pocket, and is holding it up in his hand."

There was a moment of silence in the hut, during which all the boys,
even including Bob, awaited in anxiety the result of this evident bribe,
and then Jim said, excitedly:

"Pete has shown himself, and is reaching out with the pitch-fork for the
money. He is selling us to Newcombe, who will know now exactly what we
were going to do."

CHAPTER V.

BOB'S SCHEME.

From what Jim could see from the loop-hole, there was every reason for
the young moonlighters to believe that the negro Pete, whom they hired,
was betraying them to Newcombe, and each one felt more than uneasy when
Jim reported that the detective had fastened some money on one of the
prongs of the hay-fork. But they were somewhat relieved when Bob said:

"If you weren't all a good deal frightened, you would remember that Pete
hasn't been told where we were going. He doesn't know anything more than
Newcombe himself does, and if he can make a few dollars for nothing, why
let him."

"But what are they giving him money for?" asked Jim, who was even more
disturbed by this apparent treachery on the part of their servant than
were the others.

"For an answer to that question, I shall be obliged to refer you to the
worthy Pete himself. At all events, the only harm he could do us would
be to let Newcombe know when we leave here--in case he don't want to
wait--and that is just what I fancy Pete himself won't know."

As soon as the boys realized that Pete had no secrets of theirs worth
the purchasing, they grew more easy in their minds, and were inclined to
look upon this giving of money by Newcombe as a very good joke.

Jim had nothing of interest to report for nearly ten minutes after this,
during all of which time the detective and his men had been engaged in
earnest conversation with the negro, and then he announced that they
were returning to their wagons.

They had not unharnessed their horses, but had slipped the bridles from
them that they might make a dinner from the rich grass, and yet be ready
for a start at a moment's notice.

After their return to the front of the house, one of the men drove away
with one of the teams, after having received some instructions from
Newcombe, and as it was nearly dark, the boys believ