Of course, just then he was bristling with questions as a hedgehog would
be with sharp-pointed quills. And knowing the Colonel of old, Frank and
Andy lost no time in telling him all that had happened to them, from the
time of their little accident, down to when they heard the latest news
from Percy Carberry.

"And I warrant now," remarked Colonel Whimpers, as soon as the tale was
finished, "that you two boys get the first clew to where the robbers
are hiding. Didn't you beat the wonderful Chief out before, and doesn't
history have a habit of repeating itself? Oh; if only I was ten years
younger, how I'd love to be along, when all these glorious things are
happening. I hate to think I'm put by on the shelf and never can be any
good again."

That was the old man's only fault; he was forever complaining because
his day for indulging in exciting scenes had passed; but any one who
knew the half that he had passed through, would think the colonel had no
reason to say anything; and that it was only right that someone else had
a show.

They soon soothed him, however, and long practice had made Andy
particularly apt at this sort of thing.

"Here come Elephant and Larry, on the run," remarked Frank, a little
while later; "I wonder if they saw us come home, and whether they can
have picked up any additional news connected with the bank robbery, that
we ought know."

"Well, it might pay us to hold up a little, and see," added Andy.