it worth your while."

The boy eyed Fred with suspicion, and his manner became cold.

"Do you want to rob him?" he asked.

"No."

"Then why do you want to know where he has hid his money?"

Fred deliberated hurriedly. There was no way except to take the boy
into his confidence.

"I see you are an honest boy," he said, "and I like you better for it."

"That's all right, but why do you want me to tell you where Mr. Bowman
has hidden his money?"

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Is there a secret?"

"Yes; the package which this man has hidden contains bonds which he
stole from a New York banker."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I am sent to get them back, if possible. That is why I have
come to St. Victor, and that is why I have formed the acquaintance of
Mr. Bowman."

"Is this true?" asked the boy, not wholly without suspicion.

"Listen and I will tell you the story. I must be quick, for Mr. Bowman
may be back any minute."

"There he is now."

"Meet me to-morrow at ten in the morning just back of the place where
you were sitting when I took you on board the boat, and I will tell you
all. In the name of Mr. Wainwright I will agree to pay you a hundred
dollars, if by your help I recover the bonds."

"It's a bargain!" said the boy, his eyes sparkling.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

SUCCESS!

"Who is that boy?" asked Bowman carelessly, as he re-entered the boat.

"I don't know. He asked me to take him for a little row, and I was glad
to have him for company."

"I have been taking a stroll through the woods. In fact, I was brought
up in the woods," said Bowman with a laugh.

Fred understood that he was trying to give a plausible explanation of
his absence.

"I like the woods myself," he rejoined. "Do they extend far?"

"Not very far. I enjoyed my stroll in among the trees, even barren as
they are now of leaves, very much. It brought back to my mind my
schoolboy days."

Bowman seemed in quite good spirits. Evidently he had found that his
secret hiding-place had not been discovered.

"How much longer are you going to stay in St. Victor?" he asked after a
pause.

"I don't know," answered Fred slowly. "I may take a fancy to go away
any day."

"I wish I could go too. I am tired of this place."

"I suppose you are waiting for Mr. Sinclair to recover."

"Yes," answered Bowman, but there was hesitation in his tone.

A sudden suspicion entered Fred's mind. Was Bowman meditating giving
his confederate