"Well, I declare!" exclaimed Jack.

"What is it; did you look at anything?" demanded Tom Betts, hastily.

"I'm not dead sure," admitted Jack; "you see, just as Bobolink exclaimed, thelight's mighty poor, and a fellow could easily be mistaken; but Ithought I saw something that looked like a tall man scuttle away aroundthat corner of the mill, and dodge behind that pile of lumber!"

"Whew!" ejaculated Bobolink, showing the utmost interest, for excitementappealed to him.

"Say, maybe Hans has arrived ahead of the half hour," suggestedTom Betts.

"No, it wasn't Hans, because I know him well, and he's a little runt of aDutchman, but a fighter from the word go; and my father knows nobody'sgoing to get away with those boxes of the professor while Hans and hismusket, that was used in the Civil War, are on guard. That was a tallman, and he ran like he'd just heard us coming, and wanted to hide. Iguess somebody else is curious about those boxes, besides Bobolink."

CHAPTER II