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 me, for we had nothing but bread and bacon and tea, and I made the tea myself."

"Where's the kettle?"

"We left that and the frying-pan back at the hut, for we're going to hunt the country for the thief. You'll come along, Nov?"

"On my own condition—or I'll have nothing to do with it?"

"What's it?"

"That nary a man of you goes back to Tideson's Bridge hut till I give you leave."

"But we want to catch the robber."

"Very well. Go and try if you think you can do it."

An outburst of argument arose, but soon one and another began to say, "We'll leave it to you, Nov."—"Mind you fetch my hundred and ninety dollars back for me, Nov."—"Leave Nov alone."—"Go on, Nov."

November laughed. "I suppose you all slept with your money on you?"

It appeared they all had, and Lars and Chris, who possessed pocketbooks, had found them flung empty in a corner of the hut.

"Well, Mr. Quaritch and me'll be getting