"Did you see anything of my brother?" went on Sam. "He is a little larger than I am, and here is his picture," and the youngest Rover produced a photograph he had brought along.
The old basketmaker looked at the photograph carefully.
"Why, yes, I see that feller," he said slowly. "He stopped at my gate fer a minute or two. He acted sort o' strange."
"In what way?"
"He didn't speak to me, he spoke to hisself. Said something about a basketful o' nuggets. I asked him if he wanted to buy a basket, but he only shook his head an' said somethin' about wantin' to git the nuggets o' gold first. Then, all of a sudden like, he ran away."
"And which way did he go?" asked Sam, with interest.
"Up the Hoopville road," and the old basketmaker pointed to the side road which ran past his home.
"Did he have any baggage with him?" questioned Songbird.
"Nary a thing."
"Thank you for the information," said Sam, and passed over a quarter, which Rater pocketed with a broad smile. Ready money was scarce with him.