“Yes. How’d you know——”
“My friend saw you. Is that where you found the money at the bottom of the chimney?”
“Yes, there it was—Here! Hold on! I didn’t find any money!”
Buck smiled grimly at the tone of alarm. He had observed in the semi-gloom the end of a tin box back of the man.
“Yes you did, Jackson. You are holding a tin box back of you and there is money in it. But you needn’t worry, we won’t touch it. All I want you to do is to go back to camp with us and tell your story to our camp leader.”
“If I do, you won’t take my money or have me arrested?” eagerly asked the old man.
Buck made the promise and the three of them left the house by the stairway and took up the journey to the camp. Both boys were on the alert lest the man give them the slip and remained close to his side, but he made no attempt to get away and they reached the camp after a silent trip. All of the other boys were in and anxiously awaiting them. Ted hurried forward.
“We were just beginning to worry about you two,” he said. “Your side won this time, Buck, and you two are the only squad that didn’t get your men. Who is this with you?”
“Jerry Jackson, the ghost—or one of the ghosts—of Black Riders’ Camp!” was the triumphant response.
His words produced a decided stir and the boys crowded around the unhappy mountaineer. At Buck’s command the man related all to Ted.