“We heerd ’em plannin’ to rob the bank,” resumed Dave, “an’ we was frightened. We hid on an island next day, intendin’ to come an’ get our boat an’ go down the river; but these coves knowed where the boat was, and they came next night and took it, and did the robbery.
“How do you know they did the robbery?” asked George Chard, eagerly.
“We was there when they came back with the boat,” replied Dave, watching Petit closely.
“Yes,” said Tom, taking up the story; “it was an awful rainy night first, but the storm cleared off before twelve o’clock, and they brought the money back with them, and——”
“How do you know?” cried George and Dan, in one breath.
“We see it. It was in a canvas bag. Keep cool, Sour Krout! There’s ten shots in ’er—ten lovely shots, an’——”
“Never mind him,” said Dan Creyton, cocking his gun, “it will be bad for him if he attempts anything.”
“That’s right,” said Tom, giving Dan a look of gratitude and friendship, “an’ if you see what we see you wouldn’t ’esitate about it neither. We was layin’ in the scrub when they came back with the money what they robbed from the bank. They had a lantern—keep quiet Sour Krout; she’s got ten shots in ’er, yet I tell yer—an’ they went to bury the money. Leastwise, this cove gammoned they ought to do it. Then—keep quiet, Sour Krout; you’ll do that onct too often—then we seen——”
Tom paused to admonish the Frenchman once more.
“We seen him do it!!”