"It belongs to old Toby Scroggins," she replied. "The hoss limps, and you can always hear Toby saying 'gad-up! gad-up!' every ten feet, right along."
"I know him, and what she says is so," remarked Sid. "Why, years ago he had the same old crowbait of a horse, and the boys mocked him when he'd keep using the whip, and telling the beast to get along."
"Did you hear Toby talking to his limping nag last night, ma'am?" asked Fred.
"Why, lands! no, I didn't, now you mention it," she answered; "but then sometimes he goes to sleep on his wagon, returning from market, where he buys corn for his hogs, 'stead of raisin' it like the rest of us. And he lives a long way up the road, you see."
Fred turned upon his companions.
"What do you think, fellows," he asked; "was that wagon filled with corn last night, or had it a lot of boys under the cover when it passed here, one of them being our missing chum, Colon?"
"I reckon you've struck pay dirt, Fred," declared Corney.
"My opinion too!" echoed Semi-Colon.
"Count me in on that, and make it unanimous!" Bristles remarked.
"And what about you, Sid?" asked Fred, turning on his nearest chum.