Somehow in all the talk that flew around concerning the important subject Dick could not but notice that there were two of the boys who seemed to be tongue-tied.
These were Dan Fenwick and Asa Gardner.
Dick could easily comprehend why Dan should keep silent, because, as the loser of the watch that had so strangely vanished, Dan was feeling more or less morose. And then again, when Dick considered what the past reputation of Asa Gardner had been he felt that there was some reason why the new boy should not seek to draw attention to himself.
Asa certainly looked troubled. He listened to all that was said, turning his eyes from speaker to speaker, but uttering not a word himself. When any one addressed him, merely asking him if he would have another cup of coffee or a little more bacon, Asa always gave a violent start and drew in his breath with a sigh before replying one way or the other.
Breakfast was finally finished and the boys hung around waiting for Mr. Bartlett to read the programme for the day.
He and Mr. Rowland were busy with the details of that programme, and Dick had not yet found the opportune moment for speaking to the camp leader. Dan came over to Dick’s side the first favorable chance he had.
“I want to speak to you about something queer, Dick,” he remarked, as he threw himself down and looked carefully around, as though to make sure some one he had in mind was far enough away not to overhear what he expected to say.
“All right,” Dick told him, “fire away. I can be keeping up my work on this home-made broom of twigs which we’ll have to use to sweep with. Is it about your watch?”
“Just what it is, Dick,” the other went on to say, gloomily. “In a nutshell then, I happened to wake up in the night, and saw some one walking between me and the fire. And Dick, it was Asa Gardner!”