"Go right up an' tell 'em we've been on their track."
"And in less than two minutes you would get a worse pounding than the toughs gave you last night."
Sam appeared to realize the truth of this statement, for he had no further suggestions to offer, and Dan said, after some reflection:
"I think the best thing we can do will be to go back to the fair. If those fellows find us here the jig will be up; but it isn't likely they've got the whole of their plunder with them, and intend to come here again. We'll talk with some one and find out a good plan, or keep our eyes peeled to learn what they mean to do with the goods. If they propose simply to hide them until there is a chance to get the lot away safely, we shall have the key to the situation an' can take plenty of time deciding what should be done."
Sam did not again propose to make any attempt at intimidating the men, and Teddy thought Dan's scheme a wise one.
"They'll come here more than once before the week is ended; you know they spoke of moving the stuff when the exhibitors got ready to leave, an' we'd better go back to the grounds before those fellows have finished their work."
Sam pulled out of the water-course into the creek without a murmur; but when they were on the way back, and he felt at liberty to display his true "style," courage returned.
"I knew you fellers wasn't any good on detective work," he said, scornfully. "If I'd had charge of the case we should have them men tied hand an' foot in the bottom of this boat."
"How would you have got 'em there?" Dan asked.
"That's my business. Jest because I've let you into this thing there's no reason why I should give all my secrets away, is there?"