"I didn't mean we were both to ride him."
"Oh, I suppose I could walk, and you'd ride."
"I'm not particular. But it's too late to think of that now. I wonder why we can't see him? He must have turned off somewhere."
"Very likely. Here comes a man. We'll ask him."
Down the road the boys saw approaching a rather elderly man. He walked slowly, leaning heavily on a cane, and over his shoulder was a bundle.
"Looks like a pedler," commented Jed.
"Maybe he's one of the gypsy gang," suggested Will.
"Guess not. They very seldom travel alone. No, he's a white man, but he's tanned enough to be a gypsy," went on Jed, as the stranger approached closer.
"Morning, boys," said the man, pleasantly. "Hot, ain't it? My, you look all played out! Is the sheriff after you?"
"The sheriff?" repeated Jed, for the words were somewhat puzzling to him.