Both boys were instantly on the alert. 'What was he like?' they asked, in a breath.
Dan described the stranger as minutely as he could. 'He had a small bag slung round him,' he finished, 'and seemed in a great hurry to be off.'
'That's the thief, you may depend upon it,' said Charlie. 'If we can only track him, Dan, you shall share the profits.'
Dan laughed. 'He didn't look much like a thief, now I come to think of it,' said he. 'He had too honest a face for that.'
'Oh, you never know,' was Sydney's comment. 'I dare say he's a thorough bad 'un, if the truth is known. Which way did he go, Dan, when he left you?'
The blacksmith then told all he knew, and the boys, as soon as Charlie's bicycle was ready, started off, as they fondly hoped, on the track of the thief. After a good long ride, they suddenly came upon the object of their search. He was leisurely taking photographs on the outskirts of a wood. No horse was visible, so he had evidently been home to breakfast, and had started forth again.
As the lads drew near he eyed them with interest, his idea being to photograph them.
Charlie, plucking up all the courage he possessed, went straight to the point. 'I wonder if you would mind,' said he, growing very red, 'if we looked into that case of yours?'
'And what for, young stranger, may I ask?' was the reply, given with a slightly American accent.
'Because—because,' stammered Charlie, 'we think you have something there belonging to Lady Winterton.'