"Well, we'll inquire into that. I want to see what you have in
your pockets before I believe you. Come on out!"

"You haven't any right to go through my pockets!" blustered the
stranger.

"Oh, haven't I? Well, I'm going to take the right. Jackson--
Koku--just see that he doesn't get away. We'll take him back and
search him," and Tom motioned to his chief machinist and the
giant, who had reached the scene, to take charge of the man. But
Koku was sufficient for this purpose, and the mud-bespattered
stranger seemed to shrink as he saw the big creature approach
him. There was no question of running away after that.

"Bring him along," ordered Tom, and Koku, taking a tight grip
on the man by the slack of his garments behind, walked him along
toward the office, the mud and water splashing and oozing from
his shoes at every step.

"Now you look here!" the gold-toothed man cried, as he was
forced along, "you ain't got any right to detain me. I ain't done
nothin'!" And each time he spoke the bright tooth in his mouth
glittered in the sun.

"I don't know whether you've done anything or not," said Tom.
"I'm going to take you back and see what you and Bower have to
say. He may know something about this."

"If he does I don't believe he'll tell," said Jackson.