"All right, as ye please," said the old farmer. He was so upset
over the loss of his watch he could think of nothing else.

The boys passed over the money---that is, Shep did, for he had
been appointed treasurer of the expedition. Then, after a few
words more, the young hunters hurried back through the orchard
to where they had left their rowboat among the bushes.

"Gosh! what a mean man!" was Whopper's comment. "To take that
money after what we did to catch that negro."

"It isn't likely that he'll get his gold watch back," said Giant.
"That nigger will shake the dust of this locality from his feet
as fast as he can."

"More than likely he belongs in some big city," was Whopper's
comment. "That is the way those chaps do---go to a lonely farmhouse
and make sure the men are away and then take what they can lay
hands on. If he hadn't heard Pop Lundy and us coming he would
most likely have ransacked the house from end to end."

They were soon at the river bank and forcing their way through
the bushes. Then Snap looked around in perplexity.

"Isn't this the spot where we left the boat?" he questioned, gravely.

"I think so," answered Shep.

"Well, I don't see it."