Then Jim set about cooking an elaborate dinner as a sort of thanksgiving.
The fire was built inside the thicket between the two prisoners, so that the boys might keep watch of both at the same time, and when the food had been prepared Detective Harvey's assistants set themselves down to enjoy it to the utmost.
Then it was necessary to feed the prisoners, a task which required considerable time.
Jim attended to the stranger, while Jet fed Bob, and the latter said, when his gag was removed:
"I reckon you're countin' on turnin' us over to the Albany officers."
"Yes, unless some one comes from New York."
"Ain't you the messenger boy I smuggled up on the boat?"
"Yes. I don't suppose you expected to see me again, eh?"
"I wish I'd done as Joe wanted me to. You could have been thrown over that night, and no one would have been any the wiser."
"Lucky for me you didn't know as much as you do now."