Not until the fellow had told his story could the other comprehend the amazing truth. Then he saw how a marvellous combination of circumstances had helped him, and how cleverly the quick-witted youth had turned them to account.
"I must shake hands with you again," responded the delighted Warren. "I never knew of anything more remarkable."
"Ye didn't think ye could give me any hilp," chuckled Tim, "but ye did it all the same."
"How?"
"Haven't I told ye that the little circus ye opened out on the plain drew away all the spalpeens but the single one lift to look after me? And don't ye understand that ye made things so interesting that he forgot me until I reminded him I was there by giving him a welt under the ear that he won't forgit in a dog's age?"
"I see; but I never dreamed of any such result as that."
"Nor did I, but it came all the same, and sarved me as will as if ye had fixed up the whole business."
Noticing the strange weapon in his hand Warren referred to it, and then received the whole story.
"Well, it beats anything I ever heard of. Jack isn't far off, and we can use him as we did before."
"And may I ask what ye are doing here so close to the spalpeens, whin ye ought to be miles away?"