"In this vicinity?"
"Yes, within calling distance. I tell you that—and it's the truth—so that you won't try any underhand game on me."
"You—you—" Josiah Crabtree broke off and suddenly grew nervous. "See here, Rover, let us be friends," he said abruptly. "Let us drop the past and be friends-at least, so long as we are so far away from home and in the country of the enemy."
This sudden change in manner astonished Dick. Was Crabtree serious? Certainly the man's manner would indicate as much.
"Well, I'm willing to let past matters, drop—just for the present," he answered, hardly knowing what to say. "I wish to pay all my attention to finding my father."
"Exactly, Richard—and—er—you—who is with you? Anybody I know?"
"Sam and Dick and Alexander Pop."
"Is it possible! And that black, how is it he came along?"
"He joined us by accident. But what of your party?"
"They are a set of rich young students from Yale in their senior year who engaged me to bring them hither for study and—er—recreation. And that puts me in mind. You will not—ahem—say anything about the past to them, will you?"