“Perhaps half an hour ago,” was the answer. “When I went to sleep, the boys were sitting by the fire, but when I woke there was no one in sight. I came out to look for them.”
“I understand you came on a mission for Jack Bosworth’s father?” asked Ned after a pause.
“Yes,” was the reply, “at the request of my employer I came on this most dangerous mission. I shall be glad to see New York again.”
Ned hesitated a moment and then asked:
“Did Mr. Bosworth ever say anything to you about a set of documents he wished us to bring to light?”
“He did not,” was the answer.
“His purpose in sending you, then, was to secure, by means of our help, proof connecting a corporation he is fighting with unlawful acts which have been or may be committed in this section?”
“That is exactly the idea!” answered Gilroy.
“Come on,” Jimmie shouted, “let’s get back to camp. I begin to feel hungry already. Perhaps the boys have returned.”
Before Gilroy would move out of the forest he insisted on pinning up certain rents in his clothing and combing out his mussed up hair with his fingers. There were also numerous scratches on his face, caused by contact with the rough branches of the tree, and these he thought necessary to nurse carefully with his handkerchief.