"Well," Jimmie went on, in a minute, "there is a place somewhere near the rock where some friends of the men who ran are camping. I heard them talking together."
"You little rascal!" Ned exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me that before?"
"Oh, you won't find them there now!" Jimmie advised. "I'll bet they ducked when we got away. They won't remain around here now."
"Are they counterfeiters?" asked Frank.
"They're bums from the city, brought here in connection with the abduction of the prince!" laughed Jimmie.
"How did you manage to cook and take pictures when you were tied up like a fish for shipment?" asked Frank.
"They didn't tie me up for a time, for I gave them a lot of talk about liking their society," was the answer. "They just watched me. When it came night and they wanted to sleep, they put the harness on!"
"That was careless of them," declared Frank, "not to tie you up tight."
"They're just cheap bums," Jimmie insisted. "They couldn't kidnap a bird in a cage."
The sun was up when the boys reached the
camp, and Teddy was getting breakfast.