“Here you, Sim,” exclaimed Rob, in what was for him a sharp, angry tone, “did anyone come around the sled while we were gone?”
“No one I could see, not even a flea,” rejoined Sim.
“Oh, bother your rhymes. Answer my question. Did you see anyone here, or did you leave the sled while we were gone?”
“I can’t tell a fib; leave it I did,” was the rejoinder.
“Oh, you did, eh, and after promising to watch it, too,” said Merritt angrily. “What do you mean by it?”
He shook his fist menacingly under Sim’s pug nose.
“Don’t scare him or you won’t get a word out of him,” warned Rob, coming forward from the sled.
“Who was with it while you left it, Sim?” he asked.
“Until I came back I left it with Jack,” responded the shamefaced Sim.
“Hum, just as I thought, fellows,” said Rob, turning to his companions; “this was a put-up job. Anyone with Jack?” he demanded sharply.