The arrival of Jimmie was hailed with manifestations of joy, as may well be supposed. The boys clustered around him excitedly, and even Uncle Ike, from the corral, sent forth a he-haw greeting. The breakfast Teddy prepared for him was a wonder!
The meal was scarcely finished when Bradley came sauntering into the camp. He stopped suddenly when he saw Jimmie. Watching him closely, Ned saw that he was dismayed as well as astonished. However, he soon came forward with a set smile on his face and took the boy by the hand.
"You're lucky," he said, "to get out of the clutches of the counterfeiters so soon. I was afraid something serious might have happened to you. How did you do it?"
"Ned came after me," was the only reply the boy made.
"We've decided to go away," Ned explained, "and so they gave him up, after a short argument."
"With a gun!" whispered Jimmie to the others.
Bradley loitered about the camp for a long time, asking questions and talking of a great many things which did not interest the lads at all.
"And so you are going out to-morrow?" he asked, arising to go.
"We expect to," Ned replied soberly.
"Perhaps I'll meet you outside somewhere," Bradley laughed.