d white and he was
trembling from head to foot.

"I guess you had better not go any farther, Roger," remarked Dave.
"This certainly is dangerous work."

"It's a wonder Porton doesn't fall," was the other's comment, as they
both watched the fleeing rascal, who was leaping from girder to girder
with a recklessness that was truly amazing.

"He's scared stiff at the idea of being captured," was Dave's comment.
"If it wasn't for that, I don't believe he would take any such
chance;" and in this surmise our hero was probably correct.

Dave hated to give up the chase, so he continued his way along the
bridge, making sure, however, of every step and jump he took. Roger
remained where he was, too shaken up to proceed farther when he knew
that each step would prove more hazardous than the last.

At last Ward Porton gained a point where one of the foundations of the
bridge rested on comparatively solid ground, with the river behind and
a wide stretch of marshland ahead. Here there was a long ladder used
by the workmen, and down this the rascal went as fast as his feet
could carry him. By the time Dave reached the top of the ladder,
Porton was well on his way over the solid ground. Soon the gathering
darkness hid him from view.

Knowing that it would be next to useless to attempt to follow the
rascal now that he had left the vicinity of the bridge, Dave returned
to where he had left Roger. Then the pair started slowly back to the
end of the bridge from which they had come.

"I can't understand what brought Ward Porton here," remarked Roger,
when the chums had once more gained the swimming-place. "Do you
suppose he knew you were in this vicinity, Dave?"

"Possibly, Roger. But at the same time, I don't think that would
explain his presence here. He wouldn't dare to impersonate me around
this camp. He'd be sure to be caught at it sooner or later."

"Well, I don't understand it at all."

"Neither do I. I am sorry that we didn't catch the rascal," returned
Dave, soberly.

When they went back into camp they informed Frank Andrews, and also
Mr. Obray, of what had occurred. These men had already heard some of
the particulars regarding Dave's double and the disappearance of the
Basswood fortune.

"Too bad you didn't get him," said Frank Andrews. "But you be careful
how you run over that unfinished bridge, unless you want to have a
nasty fall and either get killed or else crippled for life."

Several days went by, including S