“Just like I said was the case,” came from Step Hen, in the bushes close by. “The feller that took it just gave it a flirt, and over she came, right here. What! Well, I declare that’s mighty funny now,” and he pushed his way into view carrying some object in his hand, at which he was staring incredulously.
“Say, that ain’t your package, is it, Step Hen?” demanded Giraffe.
“I should say it wasn’t;” replied the other scout; “but tell me, fellers, how in the wide world now, d’ye suppose this came in them bushes?” and he held up what seemed to be a small hand-bag of black leather, apparently weighty, and very much used.
CHAPTER IV.
THE IGNORANCE OF STEP HEN.
All of them, guides as well as scouts, stared at the strange object which Step Hen was holding up.
“Looks like a little hand-bag of leather; but it’s been used a heap, I reckon,” suggested Davy Jones.
“Just what she is,” replied Step Hen, as he lowered the article; and something in his manner of doing this impelled Giraffe to remark:
“Reckon she must be kinder heavy, Step Hen?”
“Heft it for yourself, and see,” replied the other, as Giraffe came to his side.
“Whew! I should say, yes!” declared the tall member of the patrol, as he lifted the old black hand-bag, and held it out in a horizontal position for a few seconds. “All of five pounds there, if there’s a single one. Now, what d’ye suppose is in that thing?”