“I don’t see why,” spoke Tom.
“We won’t dare risk going there again. He’d be sure to be on the watch for us.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” replied our hero. “He can’t always stay in the mill, and we may strike a time when he goes away, as we did to-day. I’m not going to give up so soon. I want to see what that treasure looks like, if it’s there. I’m going to chance it again very soon, even if you fellows don’t.”
“Oh, we’ll be with you, of course,” declared Bert.
“Sure,” assented Jack, and Dick nodded to show that he, too, would not desert.
A turn in the path now hid the old hermit from sight, but they could still hear him coming on, muttering threats and calling them names for interfering in his search for the hidden wealth.
“It seems to me he’s farther back,” spoke Tom, listening with a critical ear to the progress of the man behind them.
“It does seem so,” agreed Jack. “I hope so, for I’m about all in.”
They slackened their speed, and all listened intently. It was so, they could scarcely hear the approach of old Wallace now.
“He’s giving up!” exclaimed Dick.