CHAPTER XXVIII. SAM FINDS A RELATION.
As my readers may feel interested in the subsequent adventures of the mysterious passenger, I may state that his extraordinary coolness did not save him. A description of his appearance had been sent to the neighboring towns, and only a few hours after he had left the ferry-boat he was arrested, and taken back to the scene of his theft. A trial was held immediately, and before the end of the week he found himself an inmate of the county jail.
On the day succeeding his departure, Bob brought the boat to anchor at a place we will call Sheldon.
There was no restaurant, and Bob and Sam took supper at the Sheldon Hotel.
Clip had been sent on shore first, and the boys felt in no hurry to return. They accordingly sat down on a settee upon the veranda which ran along the front of the hotel.
As they sat there, unknown to themselves they attracted the attention of a middle-aged man with sandy hair and complexion, whose glances, however, seemed to be especially directed towards Sam.
Finally, he approached the boys and commenced a conversation.
"Young gentlemen," he said, "you are strangers here, I imagine?"
"Yes, sir," replied Bob.
"Are you traveling through the country?"