The man—a stranger to the boys—held up his hand, palm out, in a curious fashion, and tossed a green branch toward them.
“What in the—” began Rick, but just then Uncle Tod came out, took one look at the newcomer, and cried:
“Jake Teeter! And up to his old tricks, too! Ha! Ha! He chucked you a laurel branch, boys, to show he was peaceable. Well, well, if it isn’t Jake! Say, got any more marked bullets on you?” he asked, laughing heartily.
“Um!” grunted Jake, as an Indian might have done. “All right?” he asked, questioningly.
“Meaning us and the camp? Yes,” answered Uncle Tod. “Your mysterious warning came in time, and we cleaned out the Lawson gang. Here, meet Rick, Chot and Ruddy,” and he presented the boys and the dog. “Sam, here’s Jake!” called Uncle Tod.
Sam came out of the cook tent. Though he and Jake had not seen each other in nearly two months they merely nodded silently, and Jake held up his hand, palm out, in peaceful Indian greeting.
“Isn’t he the limit?” whispered Uncle Tod to the boys, and they agreed that he was.
Jake was made welcome, and he chuckled as he heard what a stir his bullet message had caused in quiet Belemere. As Uncle Tod had said, this queer character just reveled in mysterious actions, for, a little later, Rick saw Jake trying to coax Ruddy into the bushes.
“What’s the matter?” asked the lad. “Is there something there?”
Jake silently shook his head, and, half surreptitiously, showed Rick a bone he had for the dog.