"Yes," said Chatz, "that would be just like Elmer. He's the most observing, wide-awake fellow I ever knew since I came up from the South. I've seen him measuring some of our tracks, and making a copy in that wonderful little book of his."
"Now, let's get on a little further. Do you see that the second figure, no matter how often he appears, always has his left leg bent a little?" and Matty pointed in several places to confirm his statement.
Immediately Red laughed aloud, and then in one breath he and Larry exclaimed:
"That's Ty Collins, as sure as anything!"
"I guess you've hit the mark," said Matty, "and that was just what Elmer was trying to tell us. Ty's left leg has always been a little crooked since he fell out of that cherry tree three years ago. Now, the third fellow got me at first, but come to look at him he seems a little different from the others. See here, and here, and here."
"That's a fact," declared Landy, scratching his nose in a way he had when puzzled.
"He can't mean he's a dead one, and sprouting wings, can he?" asked George.
"Wings! I've got it, fellows!" shouted Red.
"Then pass it around to the rest, because I'm all up a stump," observed Larry.
"Shucks! don't you know there's only one fellow in the whole troop who's always sighing because he can't fly, and wishes he had wings?" demanded Red, promptly.