"No, Master Oakes; he just flew along and never looked round. He did not know where it dropped." The negro was using good English, and standing erect with a very important expression. He was innocent, and the central figure now. He realized that dignity was becoming. An educated boy of his race can show great self-control under such circumstances. Vanity--thou Goddess of Transformation! While the searching party was gone, we spent the time discussing Mike's peculiarities--most of all his horseback ride in the moonlight, a curious departure for a hired man. "This whole thing is unusual in the extreme, Stone. Since the night that you were escorted to the pond by Chief Hallen's men and there warned of impending danger, and your unknown friend was chased by the man lying in wait for you, I have had a net around Mike and Maloney and Cook, but with negative results," said Oakes. "You see, Maloney and Cook go about their business in a quiet fashion, while Mike cannot be approached very well; the men report him as very shrewd and suspicious." "Did you find out where Mike went on his horseback trip?" "No, that is another curious thing. The Lorona man who brought him the horse says he has done it for a few days and received good pay. The horse was always returned promptly, once or twice by a boy; the other times by Mike himself." "To have done that, Mike must have walked back from Lorona," said Hallen. "No, he may have ridden part way. We found a man this evening who saw him take a team on the Lorona Highway and ride into Mona after dark." "Where is Mike now?" I inquired. "Since the episode of that horseback ride, witnessed by Dr. Moore and yourself, he has disappeared." "Disappeared!" "Yes, eluded all our men and never returned the horse." "Skipped! Got away!" we cried in amazement. "Yes, but he won't stay away long; he will come back." We did not quite understand Oakes's speech, but there evidently was something behind it. At this point, with his characteristic swiftness of movement, he lighted a cigar and began to smoke, offering the box to us all. That meant that, as far as he was concerned, talking on business had ceased for a time. He was now recreating. * * * * * Elliott and I walked to a window and looked out upon the front walk and the road, conversing upon the manner in which Joe had been brought to Mona. He had resisted the idea at first, but through the efforts of Martin and Elliott, and the promise of a reward, he had finally consented to the journey. They had explained to him that his refusal would defeat the ends of justice, and that escape was impossible; and when he realized that he had been unconsciously talking to watchers, and polishing their shoes in his innocence, he saw the folly of further remonstrance. Thus was the important evidence of the negro secured.