Solly Jackson scratched his head thoughtfully.
"At the tavern. I had several drinks, and that's the last I knew."
"Did they bring you here and leave you?" asked Sam.
"I reckon they did—I don't know exactly. But, gentlemen, I didn't steal the boats and things, really I didn't. It was Gasper Pold did the trick."
"You aided him," said Tom.
"He said at first he had bought the houseboat and was going to take her to New Orleans. He wanted me to go along and finish the repairs, and I didn't find out what was really up till we got to the Lake Sico bayou. Then he told me that if I didn't stick to him he'd shoot me."
"When did Sack Todd and Dan Baxter join you?" asked Sam.
"Just before we left. I don't know where they came from, but Pold knew Sack Todd well and Todd brought in the young fellow. Then they hid the houseboat in the bushes and stole what they could, and afterwards ran off with the launch."
"Yes, but you helped the others to make us prisoners," came from
Songbird, severely.
"I did it because I had to—Pold said he'd shoot me if I went back on him. Mr. Bird,"—Solly Jackson turned to the young Southerner,—"you know I ain't no bad man like Pold an' that sort."