he refused to tell where he had hidden them, and how he was on the very
point of hanging him in earnest when the arrival of Uncle James alarmed
him. Mr. Winters was astonished, and so was the doctor, who patted Frank
on the head, and said:

"You're a chip of the old block. And did you not tell him where you had
put the key?"

"No, sir;" was the answer. "He choked me pretty hard, though, and my
throat feels funny yet."

The boy having finished his story, Mr. Winters took it up where he left
off, and told the doctor how Frank had rescued him from the robber, and
how hard he had worked to effect his capture, and all who heard it
declared that he was a hero.




CHAPTER VII.

FRANK MEETS A HIGHWAYMAN.


Frank passed the next day in making up for the sleep he had lost the
night before. About three o'clock in the afternoon he arose refreshed,
and visited his uncle, whom he found fast asleep. Now that Archie was
gone, the old house was quiet and lonesome--too much so, indeed, to suit
Frank, who, after trying in vain to find some way to amuse himself until
supper time, saddled Roderick, and set out for a short gallop over the