"We don't know exactly, but we've got our suspicions," answered the small boy.
"There were two of them," said Whopper. "Both good-sized fellows. We didn't hear them until they had all the clothes in their arms and were running away. As soon as they heard us coming both threw their coats up over their heads, so we wouldn't recognize them. They would have gotten away sure only Giant yelled that he would fire a pistol at them if they didn't stop and then they, got scared and dropped the clothing in a ditch."
"And who do you think they were?" asked Snap.
"Ham Spink and Carl Dudder."
"Why, they aren't home from boarding school yet!" cried Shep.
"I don't care, that's what I think," said Giant, sturdily. "I know just how those fellows look and walk. Of course I didn't see their faces, but I am pretty sure they were Ham and Carl."
"They may have gotten home during the last day or two," said Snap, slowly, "and it would be just like them to lay around waiting to play some mean trick on us. If they had gotten off with our clothing we'd have been in a fine pickle truly!"
"That's right—-worse than with the ram," answered the doctor's son, and then he and Snap told of what had occurred on the other side of the river.
"Too bad you lost those strawberries," sighed Whopper. "I like strawberries so much I could eat about——-"
"A million platesful," finished Snap, with a grin.