Fred understood that he was trying to give a plausible explanation of his absence.
"I like the woods myself," he rejoined. "Do they extend far?"
"Not very far. I enjoyed my stroll in among the trees, even barren as they are now of leaves, very much. It brought back to my mind my schoolboy days."
Bowman seemed in quite good spirits. Evidently he had found that his secret hiding-place had not been discovered.
"How much longer are you going to stay in St. Victor?" he asked after a pause.
"I don't know," answered Fred slowly. "I may take a fancy to go away any day."
"I wish I could go too. I am tired of this place."
"I suppose you are waiting for Mr. Sinclair to recover."
"Yes," answered Bowman, but there was hesitation in his tone.
A sudden suspicion entered Fred's mind. Was Bowman meditating giving his confederate the slip, and deserting him, taking the bonds with him? Had he perhaps taken the package from its hiding-place and got it concealed about his person? A careful scrutiny satisfied Fred that this was not the case. But it was quite possible that he would make another visit the next day, and remove the bonds then.