Evidently the man began to doubt the authority or the sincerity of his would-be captor, for he turned just as Alfred emerged from the corner. One look was sufficient. The peddler bolted for the shelter of the buildings to the left.
Alfred raised the revolver and fired. The man stopped.
"Come this way!" ordered Ralph.
The shot at such a time was sufficient warning for the guards and the officers. They swarmed from all sides, as the boys advanced toward the peddler.
One of the first to arrive was the captain, half-dressed. He was the only one who understood the meaning of the shot. Alfred handed him the weapon, and in another moment the peddler was in the hands of the captain and on the way to the lock-up.
As they marched across the ground the colonel ran up.
"What's this!" he asked the boys, as they were following the captain and the prisoner.
"We have him this time," said Ralph.
"Who?" asked the colonel.
"The real peddler," said Alfred.