Then several figures loomed up, entering the camp. Sebattis had merely glanced up, but made no move to reach for his gun; so Giraffe felt that the danger could not be acute.
Well, of course it was no other than Sheriff Green, with his posse; and as they advanced they were holding their guns in such fashion that they had Charlie and Kimball covered; for evidently they had not discovered that the pair were tied up.
“Run you down at last, have we, Charlie Barnes?” the sheriff was saying, as he strode forward, and there was a vein of curiosity as well as triumph in his voice. “Don’t bother getting up; we can put the irons on just as well where you sit. But hello! if here ain’t our young friends the scouts! What does this mean, I wonder?”
CHAPTER XXVII.
DOWN THE RIVER—CONCLUSION.
At that there was a roar from the scouts that must have shown the officer how badly he had deceived himself; but then discovering the two desperate rascals of whom he was in search, apparently sitting there, and taking things easy, how was he to know they were prisoners. Besides, he had eyes only for them, as he came advancing into camp.
“A little too late, Mr. Sheriff,” remarked Thad, advancing to meet the other, “we found that in self-defense we just had to take these gentlemen in out of the cold ourselves. Besides, one of them was wounded by Sebattis the other night, and a second is a pretty sick man, so we’re going to send them down the river in the morning with part of our force.”
Of course the sheriff was greatly disappointed. To have his work cut out for him by a parcel of lads wearing the khaki uniforms of the Boy Scouts was hard on the officer. And Thad felt that Sheriff Green must begrudge them the reward that had been offered for the apprehension of the yeggmen, and the recovery of the plunder taken from the last bank they had broken into.
“Tell you what we’ll do, Mr. Green,” he remarked, as they all sat around the fire, with the three last arrivals enjoying a late supper; “suppose we split that reward for the taking of the hoboes into three parts. One will go to you, as you gave us valuable information; another we scouts believe we deserve; while the third I want our guides to share among themselves.”
“That’s a generous offer, my boy,” declared the sheriff. “Most people would think they had a right to it all, as you really do. I accept for myself and posse. And if you can take the wounded and the sick man along in your boats, we’ll see that Charlie gets down there all right. Is it a bargain?”
Thad glanced around at his chums, and each gave him a nod in the affirmative. That settled the matter, for the silent vote had been unanimous.