"Well, it was a windfall to your family, anyway," observed Tom, "and you can add more to it to-morrow, if you're smart."
"And what will poor Bob be doing while we are hunting for him?" inquired Joe. "He seems to be frightened, for he wants you to give up the valise, and be quick about it."
"Oh, nonsense!" exclaimed Tom; "you don't know Bob Emerson as well as I do. He wrote that postscript, of course, and so would you if you had been in his place. But Bob would be the maddest boy you ever saw if we should pay the least attention to it."
At this moment Uncle Hallet and Mr. Warren turned toward the place where the boys were standing, the former saying, with some impatience in his tones:
"Well, Silas, if you are afraid to come you can stay at home; but I would have a little more pluck if I were in your place. You'll come, won't you, Joe, and help us hunt down those villains who have kidnapped Bob Emerson?"
"Indeed I will," answered Joe, promptly.
"I knew that would be your reply," continued Mr. Hallet. "Now, if you will bring the flat to the bank and drop the apron, we'll get our team aboard and go on to the Beach."
The ferryman and his boys went to work with a will, and when the flat reached the other side of the river, the passengers got into their wagon and drove toward the Beach, after telling Silas that they would go home by way of the bridge, and he need not stay up to ferry them back; while Joe hurried off to tell his mother what he had learned during his short interview with Tom Hallet.
"It's the greatest outrage I ever heard of," said he, indignantly; "but they needn't think they are going to make anything by it. Don't I wish I might be lucky enough to gobble at least one of those robbers!"