ars in cash!" repeated several, and it was plain to
see that this offer was regarded as quite liberal.

"What kind of a looking turn-out is it?" was next asked.

Matt described Billy and the wagon. All listened attentively, and when
he had finished the mountaineer who had first spoken tapped him on the
shoulder.

"I'll go out with ye and hunt him up, stranger."

"So will I!" cried another.

"And I!" added a third, and soon six men stood ready to continue the
search with Andy and Matt.

Seeing this, the freight agent decided to drive back home, taking a
much better road, which led down to Easton. He did not lose any time
in starting, and, if the truth must be told, both Andy and Matt were
glad to be rid of him.

After he had gone the auctioneers procured another horse and wagon
from the tavern-keeper and also a couple of lanterns. The mountaineer
had a mule upon which he rode, and the other men went along on foot.

They traveled the road by which the young auctioneers had come. The
village was situated in a small open spot, and now, when they once
more found themselves between the mountains, they were enveloped in a
darkness which the rays of the lanterns scarcely dispersed.

They traveled along as rapidly as possible, and inside of half an hour
came to a fork in the road which Matt had had in mind since the
discovery of their mistake had been made.

"We will examine the ground here," he said. "It is more than likely he
branched off here."

He was soon hard at work, and all of the others with him. The wagon
track they had followed was very plainly to be seen, and now Matt
saw, at a spot which was covered with loose stones, where the thief
had branched off with his stolen outfit.

"That is the road he took," he announced to the others. "Had we
followed him from here in the first place we would most likely have
caught up to him by this time."

"Is that 'ere track the right one?" questioned the mountaineer
eagerly.

"I believe it is."

"Then I'm off fer the reward!" shouted the brawny fellow. "Git up,
Bones!" and he slapped the mule with the flat of his hand, and was off
without another word.

"Ramson will get it, sure," grumbled one of the other men. "No use for
us to go any further."

And he turned on his heel and started back for the village, followed
by most of the others, leaving a single man to race after the
mountaineer on foot.

Matt and Andy were not slow to urge their fresh horse forward.