104“If it isn’t Stacy Brown raising a row it’s Tad Butler, and if it isn’t Tad it’s a midnight robber.”
“Or else Ned Rector himself,” added the Professor. “If you young gentlemen will excuse me I think I shall put on some clothes. We might as well have our breakfast and get an early start, since we are all awake.”
“I was going to suggest that,” replied Tad. “I’ll go rub down the ponies while the rest of you get the breakfast.”
“Shall we dress before or after?” questioned Walter.
“Before, of course,” returned the Professor.
Breakfast was not a very merry meal that morning. Tad was chagrined to think a person could get into their camp and steal a ham without his having heard the intruder. Either he had slept more soundly than usual, or else their late visitor had been unusually stealthy.
“I’ll tell you what I think,” spoke up Rector after a period of silence.
“Out with it,” answered the Professor.
“I’ll wager that some of these prospectors have ducked in here and taken our stuff. There must be plenty of them in the mountains hereabouts.”
Tad shook his head.