“Is he one of the robbers?” he asked.
The Sergeant laughed heartily.
“I think I have a surprise for you,” he said. “You just wait a few hours. You don’t know that I came here to meet this boat, do you?”
“Why, how did you know? What is the mystery? We’ve been clouded in mystery ever since we left the mountain pass.”
“You’ll soon be out of it,” replied the Sergeant. “You’ll have a clear field to start another puzzle column in,” he laughed.
“No more puzzle columns for me!” declared Clay. “But how did you know about the boat coming here?”
“Why,” laughed the officer, “I even know the names of your chums! Second sight, eh! I know where you started from, and all about it. I’ve been waiting for you two days!”
“I give it up!” said Clay, and not another word would he say until the boat was reached and a general consultation was held. Gran smiled when the Sergeant was introduced to him and said:
“We have been waiting a long time for you, Sergeant Wilcox!”
“Now, what do you think of that?” asked Case. “I don’t think any more!” laughed Clay. “I’m beyond being astonished at anything.”