t you want done."

"I tell you that you are not."

"Then, in that case, I'll take the money and put it in my pocket--so.
There! Now, go ahead. If the work is honest, and such as an honest man
can do, I'll do it--if I ain't too old, and you say I ain't. But if the
work ain't honest, I'll return your money. Now, what is it, mister?"

"I want you first to promise that you will not reveal my identity. I
must be Jules Verbeau to you to the end, and you must forget that I am
not he in fact."

"You kin consider that done, sir."

"Second, I want you to answer some questions for me."

"Fire away."

"How well do you know the hills and mountains, the ravines and gulches,
the rocks and the caves around this region?"

"As well as I know that dooryard in front of you," replied the old man,
pointing through the window. "I know every inch of the country--every
inch of it."

"Now, another question which you will not understand at once: Do you
know how to use a pencil, and is your hand steady enough to draw plans
for me?"

"Yes, sir. I began life as a draughtsman; but that was when I was a
boy."

"That will suffice. Now--could you draw a plan of different parts of the
mountains, so it would be plain enough for me to follow without your
being present with me?"

"That would depend upon you, sir. If you are a man who has some
woodcraft in your make-up, I say yes. It would depend upon you."

"We will consider that question answered, then. Now, have you any idea
to what part of the mountainous region around here--say, within fifty
miles of where we are seated--the hobo gang would select in which to
hide themselves?"

"I think I could guess it to a dot."

"Why?"

"Because there is one region up among those hills which is exactly
fitted for them; and from which you couldn't drive them out with a
thousand men. That's why!"

"Good. That sounds as if it might be the place they would select. How
far is it from here, as you would travel afoot."

"A matter of thirty miles."

"Now, can you draw me a plan of that region?"

"I kin."

"And how to get there?"

"I kin."

"And are there caverns there? Do you suppose those people are hiding and
making their headquarters in caves?"

"Yes, to both questions. The hills round that 'ere region are
honeycombed with caves. Some of 'em is big, and some of 'em is little;
but there's a lot of 'em there."

"Good; and you know them well enough to give me a working plan of them?
What