Stacy went into an elaborate explanation of what had occurred so far as he knew. He said 112something had grabbed them by the ankles and dragged them out under the tent. He showed where they had been dragged. The backs of their pajamas were evidence enough of this fact, the dirt being fairly ground into the cloth.
The Professor fixed his keen eyes on the freckled face of Tad Butler. The Professor was plainly suspicious, but he did not voice his suspicion. Instead, he smiled to himself.
“I am going back to bed, young gentlemen, and I trust there will be no further disturbance in this camp to-night. If there is I shall be under the necessity of taking a hand in it myself.”
“If Ned and Chunky will behave themselves, I don’t believe there will be any further trouble, sir,” said Tad.
Stacy fixed a glance of quick comprehension on Butler, and Tad saw in that one glance that the fat boy’s suspicions were aroused, too. Stacy was sharper than Tad had given him credit for being.
113CHAPTER X
IN THE HOME OF THE THLINKITS
Stacy did not speak of his suspicions that night, but on the following morning he was up earlier than the others, looking here and there about the camp. He was unusually silent at breakfast time, but Ned Rector on the contrary had a great deal to say.
“Somebody was in this camp again last night. I don’t know what he was trying to do, but whatever it was, he made a good start,” said Ned.
“Perhaps it was the work of Indians,” suggested Walter.