“Only wish he was coming this way,” began Tom. “Quick, Bob. I want a squint. We may learn something.”

“We have already!” cried Bob.

“What—what?”

Then, as Sam Randall and Thunderbolt burst in upon them, a belated suspicion of the truth flashed into Tom Clifton’s mind. His mouth opened; a deep scowl settled on his features; his fists were clenched.

“Oh—oh! What a dub I was, never to think of it! Oh—oh! It’s Larry—Larry Burnham; I know it is!”

Forgetting politeness in his eagerness Tom seized the field-glass from Bob Somers’ hands and leveled it hastily upon the tiny figure of horse and rider.

His fears were realized. There, in a bright circle of light, the high-power glass showed the image of Larry Burnham and his horse.

CHAPTER XII
TOM FOLLOWS

“The meanest thing I ever heard of!” cried Tom, handing back the binocular.

“A silly chump, all right; but he got ahead of us this time,” exclaimed Sam Randall.