"That tallies with the man who stole the money and the papers!" cried Snap, excitedly. "Did he limp, too?"
"Slightly, with his left foot."
"He must be our man. But what is he doing around here?"
"I don't know," answered Shep. "As soon as he saw us he jumped up and put the papers in his pocket."
"What did you do?" asked Whopper.
"He asked us what we wanted, and Shep told him we were out nutting," said Giant. "Then he asked us who we were."
"Did you tell him?"
"We did," said Shep; "and then we asked him who he was, but he put us off. He said he was out tramping the mountains for his health."
"Did he seem to be staying at the cottage?"
"Yes; at least he had a bag full of provisions with him, and a gun, too."