"That's what I'm afraid of," Jet replied, gloomily, and then, recovering himself as with an effort, he added: "There's no use borrowing trouble, however, and we should be mighty thankful we've succeeded so well in getting two of them."
"You can bet I am thankful," Jim replied, with such emphasis that Jet could not prevent himself from laughing heartily.
By this time Bob had been carried to the cedar thicket, and an expression of surprise came over his face as he saw the first prisoner; but Jet did not intend to allow them an opportunity to communicate with each other even by signs.
Bob was made fast to a tree at the farther end of the encampment, where he could not see his former companion, and then Jet went to the first prisoner as he said:
"If you will promise not to speak, I'll take the gag out of your mouth for a while, because we shall likely be here a long time."
There was an expression of deepest thankfulness in the fellow's eyes, and the amateur detective felt reasonably certain that he would not attempt to make any disturbance.
"Now, if I hear you so much as whisper, back it goes," he said, as he removed the uncomfortable preventive of speech.
"You needn't be afraid," was the meek reply. "I'll do anything rather than have that thing put in my mouth agin. How did you get hold of Bob?"
"Took him unawares, as we did you."
"Well, all I can say is, you fellers are corkers!"