argued into
seeing things like boys see 'em. Of course, I couldn't break away till
she had arranged to go back to the house, and wait for things to begin
to move, as they surely would, just as soon as I get to Asheville. But
there was one real smart thing she did do, and I've just got to tell you
about that befo' I come to my own adventure."

"That's right, don't skip anything, old chum," remarked Giraffe, warmly,
as he settled down to listen.

"When Bertha took that document from the little pigeonhole in the safe
where he had it hidden, she thought to make up another as much like it
as she could, and put that in place of the one she carried off. Some of
you scouts ought to take pattern from the smartness of that little girl;
don't you think so, Thad?" and Bob turned his now smiling face upon the
patrol leader.

"They couldn't improve very much on that sort of work," Thad declared;
"and if girls were allowed to join our troop I'd vote every time to let
your cousin come in. I'm sure she'd be an honor to any organization."

"Now tell us what happened to you, Bob!" asked Bumpus.

"Well," continued the other, drawing a long breath as though what he was
about to say stirred him once more; "I was just ready to say good-bye,
when we heard loud voices, together with the barking of a big dog, and
Old Reuben, with a man, and a mastiff about hip-high burst into view,
both men carrying lanterns, and heavy sticks in their hands. And you can
believe me, fellows, I understood that I was in for a little excitement
about that time!"

CHAPTER XXIII.

A CLIMB IN THE DARK.

"THAT'S where you had ought to have had our gun, Bob," remarked Giraffe,
as the other paused for a moment, to recover his breath before going on
with his exacting recital.

"I was about of that opinion myself, suh," the other continued; "and I
reckon that if such had been the case, there would have been one less
mastiff in the world right now. But after all, it's well I didn't take
the weapon. Things would have gone different from what they did; and I
have no fault to find, suh, not a bit."

"But what did you do; don't tell us you beat a big dog runnin'?"
demanded Bumpus, incredulously.

"I am not so foolish as to want you to believe that sort of stuff,
suh," replied the Southern boy, stiffly. "I doubt very much if there is
a man living, even the winner of the great world Marathon, who could
have outrun that hound. Fortunately I didn't have to dep