"Please, may I speak?" Biddie Burton had come forward eagerly.
With the permission of the judge, Biddie hurried on:
"Without letting the other boys know, McKenzie told me to follow Danny in case his courage should give out completely. But he gave me my orders to keep well in the rear. He wanted Dan to go to the haunted tree by himself, if he would—to win his spurs, you see."
"Did you follow Harding all the way?" someone interrupted.
"All the way to the haunted tree? Yes, sir, and he did go! He went right up to it and circled all about it. Then the earth seemed to open and swallow him up. I looked and looked for him. Then I ran back for help. I found McKenzie and Mr. Gordon, and we all three started out after Dan. You have heard the rest."
This seemed satisfactory, and the judge turned to Danny.
"Come here, Daniel," he said, "and tell the court now how you captured your wireless operator."
Danny started.
"I didn't do it, sir," he said in embarrassment. "Mr. Gordon and Willard McKenzie captured the man. I only showed them where he was."
The men exchanged glances.