telephone. They couldn't use our clothing for themselves. And
yet they stole all we had in order to get hold of our food. At
that, they didn't care what became of us, or how long we had
to travel about in these woods without food or clothing."

"The tramps must be optimists," laughed Prescott. "Probably they
had an abiding faith that all would turn out well with us, and
so proposed to help themselves to what they needed."

"I wonder whether they'll fool with our outfit again," pondered
Tom grimly, "if they come across it in our absence."

"I don't know," said Dick gravely. "As you've already reminded
me, I am no foreteller of the future."




CHAPTER VIII

WHEN THE PEDDLER WAS "FRISKED"


It was a hot and dusty road that lay before them when they again
took up their march that day.

Yet Dick Prescott insisted that, despite the late start, they
must count upon covering twenty miles for that second day.

At night they halted on the edge of woods so far from the nearest