"I've seen that man somewhere before tonight!" he said.

"Then you'd better try hard to place him" Frank answered, "for we are
going to see more of him in the future, if I'm not mistaken. Perhaps
you saw him on one of your visits to Washington."

"That may be," Ned replied. "Anyway, I may be able to think it out
before morning."

Uncle Ike laid his nose against Ned's shoulder and gave him a push.

"He's in a hurry!" the boy laughed. "We ought to be, too! Is it
possible that one of the boys saddled him for a ride on the mountain
in the night?"

"Just like Jack or Oliver. Or Jimmie may have returned and planned
one of his midnight expeditions!"

"Get up and ride," Ned advised. "I'll walk and try to place that
man's face."

"You might have seen it in the rogue's gallery," suggested Frank,
leaping into the saddle and starting away, the mule pulling and
rearing every moment.

Finally Ned called out to him to stop, and walked up to his side.

"What is the matter with Uncle Ike?" he asked.