This, we repeat, was the substance of the story that Bob Howard told George, while they were sitting on the bench in the cabin. The only portions of it that he left out were those relating to the supposed identity of Mr. Stebbins’ nocturnal visitors.
He did not mention the name by which one of the robbers had been addressed by the one who seemed to be the leader of the trio, nor did he refer to the fact that the voices of all three of them had sounded familiar to him.
He and Dick had talked these matters over during their walk down the shore, and decided that they would say nothing about them. They were merely coincidences, and, if they so much as hinted at them, they might be the means of placing three of their schoolmates in a most unpleasant situation.
George paid the closest attention to the story, and Dick Langdon noted, with no little astonishment, that at times an expression of intelligence would light up his countenance, and a meaning smile linger about his lips.
When Bob ceased speaking, George asked abruptly:
“You say those robbers engaged in a long conversation in your hearing. Did you recognize their voices?”
This question took Dick and Bob so completely by surprise that they could not speak; but the blank look in their faces told George all he wished to know.
“You needn’t answer me if you don’t want to; but I’ll just tell you what’s a fact,” said he, striking his open palm with his clenched hand. “I’ll bet a million dollars, or half I am worth, that if I felt at all revengeful—if I had any desire to punish three boys who have repeatedly gone out of their way to insult me—I could put my hands on those robbers before sundown, unless they have skipped the country. What do you say to that?”
“I say if you know who they are, you ought to point them out to the officers of the law,” answered Dick Langdon, with the utmost promptness. “Who do you think they are?”
“I don’t think anything about it, Dick; I know. Now, let me tell you a story—a very short one.”