Part 34 (1/2)

If you need any help let me know.”

Bradley arose and stretched out his arms luxuriously.

”That's the first time I ever stood in the accused row,” he said, ”and it will be the last! But, see here, boy, I can't get the kid in a minute! I'll go to the mother and tell her what I'm doing, if I live to get there!”

”You think your ex-friends may seek to terminate your lease of life?”

”They surely will--now. And, here's a pointer for you, look out for yourself.”

”I think I can fix you out so they will receive you with open arms,”

Ned grinned. ”Here. I'll put these cuffs on again, with one arm locked carelessly. You can draw the bar out when you pull right hard.

Now, eat what you need and take a run up the slope. We'll follow you with a serenade of bullets. When you join the outlaws down in the canyon you'll be a hero.”

”That's a fine notion!” said Bradley, actually smiling.

”And don't come back here with the boy. Send him home to the old lady. Then, if you want to help me in the work I'm on--”

”I don't, and I won't!”

”Don't blame you a mite! I never did like a traitor! If you won't help me, then cut sticks for New York. Some day when you are in better mood, come to the Black Bear Patrol clubroom. You know where it is! Well give you a look into the place without sending you up to the attic!”

Bradley's face twisted into a laugh, but Ned did not seem to notice the fact.

”I'm not saying anything more about the prince, understand, or the attic, or the French, or the black stain, but perhaps you'll tell me the whole story some day!”

And so, handcuffed again, Bradley was taken back to the tent, where he was given a hearty meal. Then he carefully made his way out and ran for the summit. Ned and his chums sat back and laughed at the tumbles he took in his eagerness to deceive any one who might be watching the camp. Now and then he fell down behind a rock and lay there for a moment, peering out in the direction of the tent.

Just before he gained the summit, Ned and the others ran out of the tent with shouts of alarm and dashed up the slope, firing as they went. At that time Bradley's speed might have shown a world record if it had been set down! He cleared the summit, shouting for a.s.sistance from anyone who might be below, and half rolled down toward the canyon. Ned fired a few shots and went back to the tent.

”What's the game?” asked Frank, as Ned sat down and roared. ”This man Bradley seems to be It--Tag!”

Ned explained the situation and Frank immediately began taking notes for a story for his father's newspaper.

”If I had had a motion picture machine here,” Frank declared, ”I could have made a fortune out of the films! It was glorious, the way the old boy tore up the rocks on his way down. Think he'll return?”

”I think he will,” was the reply.

”But if he doesn't?”

”Then we shall have to find the boy ourselves, just as we are going to find the prince! That is the next job, you understand.”

”And geezle the man who stole him--that's in the job, isn't it?”

”Nothing said about that, but I hope to get him and have the goods on him, too. When I present him to the chief he can do whatever he likes with him.”

”But how are you going to get the goods on him?” asked Oliver.

”I'll manage that easily,” laughed Ned. ”The first thing is to catch him. Now, Frank, you saw where Bradley went?”