If Hank had been minus his coat at the time he jumped to his feet, he certainly had found no time to snatch it up when he ran away in such haste at the coming of the others. Why, possibly this was the very coat which Paul had doubled up, to serve him as a rude pillow.
Investigation revealed the fact that it was a coat. And when he pawed it over to find the inside pocket, he was thrilled to hear the unmistakable rustle of papers somewhere! Yes, wonderful as it might seem, there was a good-sized bunch of folded documents in the pocket. Could these be the lost papers that had been the cause of so much distress to Mr. Clausin?
Even while Paul was thinking whether or not he should wait until morning to mention his dis
covery to the anxious Joe, because he did not wish to arouse any false hopes, he thought he heard a slight sound near by.
What if Hank were returning to search for his coat, remembering how he had left it so carelessly when he fled, and what things of value it held? Paul was glad now that he had that revolver. He might not like to make use of it; but believed it would prove very valuable as a gentle persuader.
They had found a box of matches among other stores the two men had collected in this retreat; so that there was now no scarcity of such things.
Something touched him on the arm and sent a quiver through his frame, for he was worked up to a point where he felt as though he could just shout. Then he heard the lowest kind of a whisper close to his ear.
"Paul!"
It was of course his chum, who must also have been awake, and heard the same suspicious sound that came to his ears.
Paul drew Jack's head close to his lips as he whispered: