minute. Then we see this Frenchy sneaking through the woods. We
wondered what was up. Then he vanished. We looked about, some
quiet-like, and on tiptoe, and then we saw this shipmate o' your'n
pry apart some bushes and head in this way. It looked queer to us."

"What did you think was up?" asked Jack.

"Why, as near as we could figger, this was some smuggler's hidin' place,
and we was figgerin' that perhaps Jerry and me would have five 'hundred
or a thousand dollars' reward to divvy up on. It wa'n't--but, anyway,
Jerry an' me are proper glad we stumbled in on this, just the same.
Now, mate, spin yer own yarn."

Hal was on his feet, by this time, and shaking hands with the two
rescuers. Gaston, at the furthest end of the little room, again cowered
against the wall, frightened and surly.

Jack Benson told as much of the story as he thought wise, though he felt
it best to leave out the names of M. Lemaire and Mlle. Nadiboff.

Next Hal described how, at the hotel, he had set himself to watching
Gaston; how he had shadowed the fellow.

"Did he come out here in an auto?" asked Jack.

"No; if he had, I couldn't have followed," Hal responded. "But this
place is barely four miles from the hotel. We can get back in an hour."

"What ye goin' to do with this feller, anyway?" demanded Hickey, jerking
a thumb in the direction of the frightened Gaston.