There was one thing, however, that he did not take into the account. He had acted as a spy upon the unsuspecting farmer, and so became the possessor of a valuable secret. It didn't occur to him that possibly he in turn might have attracted observation, and that his movements might have been watched.
It chanced that Charlie Davis was strolling out alone, and had seen Carden enter Mr. Tarbox's field and make his way to the barn.
"What can Carden be going there for?" thought Charlie. "I'll watch him."
Charlie had also seen Mr. Tarbox, and he was not slow in concluding that Carden, for some reason which he could not at once guess, was watching him.
"What in the world can Carden be looking at?" he thought. "There can't be anything to steal in that old barn. At any rate he's up to some mischief, I'll bet a hat. I'll tell—let me see—I'll tell Anak, and ask what he thinks about it."
It was 6 o'clock when Charlie returned to the circus tent, and he broached the subject at once to the Norwegian giant.
Anak was a shrewd fellow, and he guessed the truth.
"There's something valuable there on which Carden has some designs, but he isn't likely to do anything till late to-night. Meet me after the performance, and we'll take a stroll over that way."