"How did you get the wallet?"
"Our things were stolen and, aided by our dog, we traced them here, where we found your goods mixed up with our own. While we were sorting out the stuff we saw this Bumbum approaching. We hid in the bushes, and saw by the way he acted that he had robbed both of us and was going to tote his booty off. We collared him, and on searching him got ten dollars belonging to two of these boys, and your wallet. That proves that he was the man who waylaid you; otherwise, how would he have your wallet?"
"It's an odd tale, Robert Menden," came sullenly.
"And a true one, whether you believe it or not."
"Of course I'll have to believe it. But I want to talk to you about another matter."
"All right. But hurry, as we don't intend to spend all of our time here."
"You are hot-footed after that treasure, I see."
"We have a right to be."
"Didn't you see the notice I posted near the entrance to the cave?"
"That notice isn't worth the paper it is written on, Farvel. You might better have saved your writing material."