Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/410

 we make you this offer: We will give a hundred dollars apiece to the man who will find our weapons, capture the thief and hold him so that we can come and testify against him. Or, we will give fifty dollars apiece for the guns without the thief, and the same amounts for the thief without the guns. Boys, you are included in that offer."

"Thank you, sir," said Arthur. "It would afford us great satisfaction if we could be the means of restoring your property to you."

"Before we leave here we'll fix things so that Matt won't find much to comfort him if he should accidentally circle around this way after we are gone," said Mr. Swan. "Pile on every thing, boys."

The "boys" understood him and went to work with a will. In less time than it takes to tell it, the lean-to was pulled down and thrown upon the fire, the bed-clothes and dishes were piled on top, the bacon was driven so deeply into the ground by the heels of heavy boots that a hungry hound could hardly have scented it in short, every thing that Matt and his family had left behind in their hurried flight,