But while the rest were both growling and making fun over the secret visit of the unknown, Paul noticed that there was one in the party who said never a word.
That was Joe Clausin.
He listened to everything, without comment; but there was a puzzled look on his face, as though he could not quite understand certain facts.
Paul realized that he was thinking about the man who looked like the party he knew; but who was supposed to be at the other side of the world just then. Joe believed it might have been this person who stole the ham; and yet something seemed to upset such a theory. Possibly the men
tion of that extra long foot, and the patched shoe, hardly agreed with his ideas.
And while they were standing around, still engaged in disputing and advancing new theories, some one gave a shout.
"I saw a man on a wheel just flash past that open spot back along the trail!" he cried; and immediately every eye was focussed on the spot indicated; for coming at just such a moment the news electrified the scouts.