and down for some trace of the negro, but without success. They
knew he was short and stocky and wore a light, checked suit, but
that was all.

When they returned to the farmhouse they heard Mrs. Lundy's story
in detail. She had been on the point of sweeping the sitting-room
when the negro had appeared and asked for Mr. Lundy. She had
told him her husband was out, and then the colored man had wanted
something to eat. She had refused to give him anything, and then,
seeing the watch on the mantelpiece, he had snatched the timepiece
and run. She had screamed for assistance and then fainted from
excitement.

"Was the watch a valuable one?" asked Snap.

"Yes, it was," answered Simon Lundy. "It was gold and given to
me by my father years ago. I wouldn't take a hundred dollars
fer it nohow. I was mighty careless to leave it on the mantelpiece,
but I didn't want to carry it around in the orchard when I picked
apples."

"What will you do about it?" asked Shep.

"I dunno. Go tew teown an' tell the constable, I guess. Be yeou
goin' to town?"

"No; we are off on a hunting trip," answered Giant. "And, by the way,
we had better be getting back to the boat," he added to his chums.

"Mr. Lundy, we'll give you a quarter for those apples," said Shep.