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Rh them not to make any noise, and so, as silently as Indians, they filed along, Jackson first and Marvelling last, with the young auctioneer between them.

Ten minutes' walking brought them to the edge of a bit of woodland, surrounded on three sides by corn-fields. Here Jackson called a halt.

"The shanty is not two hundred feet from here. Keep quiet while I go on and investigate," he whispered.

The constable glided out of sight, and five minutes of silent suspense followed.

"It ain't likely he'll find anything," grumbled Isaac Marvelling. "This ain't anything but a wild goose chase."

"Wait," returned Matt. "He must go slow, or he may"

The young auctioneer broke off short, for at that instant several loud exclamations reached their ears.

"Surrender, Yedley!" they heard Jackson cry. "Surrender, in the name of the law!"

"Who told ye to come here?" yelled the voice of an old man. "Git out an' leave me alone."

"I arrest you, Yedley, for stealing— Hullo! he's gone! Stop him! stop him!"

There was the banging of a shanty door, and