During the evening Gus and his companion appeared to be very jolly; they told stories, sang, and laughed as if there was nothing in connection with this "camping out" to be concealed, and the watcher in the bushes wondered why the miner did not come.
Half a dozen men might have walked around the encampment without being observed by the boys, and Bill's delay seemed very singular.
Fred did not dare to leave his place of concealment, and even if it had been perfectly safe to do so, he knew not in which direction to look for his friend, therefore nothing could be done save exercise patience.
The hours passed without any change in the condition of affairs. The camp-fire burned itself out. The supposed culprits retired to rest, and Fred, who had slept but a short time during the previous night, found it absolutely impossible to prevent his eyes from closing.
Lower and lower his head drooped upon his breast until slumber came, and he remained unconscious for many hours.
The glare of the sunlight aroused him after the occupants of the camp were astir, and he sprang to his feet in alarm.
The noise made by this sudden movement startled those whom he had been detailed to watch, and before Fred could collect his scattered senses both the boys were upon him.
For a single instant the three stood surveying each other, and then Gus and his companion seized the bewildered spy by the arms, rendering useless his frantic struggles to defend himself.
"Can you hold him, Tim, while I get something to tie his hands?" Gus cried, and Tim replied:
"I can take care of three or four jest like him. Get the rope outer the bag; that'll be strong enough."