“There’s something behind all this,” observed Ned. “We must keep our eyes open.”
The boys’ craft soon caught up to the police boat which was more heavily laden, and the two proceeded down the stream toward Northville. It was after dark when they tied up at a dock, and, making their boat snug proceeded to follow the lead of Chief Dalton.
“Is it safe to leave our boat here?” asked Jerry.
“I guess so,” replied the officer. “I’m going to have a man on guard all night. I guess the thieves won’t come back. Come ahead; we’ll go to the hotel and have supper.”
Jerry and Bob walked on ahead with the main body of policemen, but Ned, who lingered to get from the locker a better coat than the one he was wearing, the other boys having changed garments before, found himself close behind the chief and tramp who were walking up from the river together.
“Any luck?” Ned heard the chief ask the ragged man in a low voice.
“I think I’ve discovered the cave where they hide the stuff,” was the cautious rejoinder. “It’s about where—”
In his eagerness to walk softly and hear what was being said, which perhaps he had no right to do, Ned stepped on a piece of wood that broke with a sharp crack. The two men turned suddenly.
“As I was saying,” the tramp spoke suddenly in a loud voice, evidently for the benefit of any listeners, “I have tramped many weary miles, and have eaten scarcely anything. I am too ill to work, and I don’t know where I am to sleep to-night.”
The jingling sound of money passing from the chief’s hand to that of the tramp could be heard.