The breakfast was plain, but Fred and Bowman, who were the only guests, were not difficult to suit.
Ten minutes later they were on their way to the woods. They went across the fields, taking a footpath trodden in the snow, which materially shortened the distance. But even tramping this far tired Bowman, and when they reached a small rock that cropped out from the expanse of white, he declared that he must rest awhile.
He took a seat on the bowlder and began to read one of the papers he had brought with him.
Five minutes later he uttered an exclamation of surprise. Fred looked at him inquiringly.
"Do you find news of any of your friends?" he asked.
"Yes, Teddy Donovan has escaped from Sing Sing."
"That's the bank burglar, isn't it?"
"Yes, and one of the smartest men in the profession."
"You know him, then?"
"Yes," answered Bowman. "I got acquainted with him some years ago. Of course," he added, feeling some explanation necessary, "I didn't know that he was a burglar till later. Poor fellow, it is his only fault."