Dick and Dave, Tom and Greg now attended to two stakes at a time, making the other guy-ropes fast. "Danny, you may set in all the wall-pegs," said Dick, standing back to survey the really neat job. "I've been thinking-----" began Dalzell. "Then let Hazelton do the wall-pegging," retorted Dick tersely. "I've been thinking-----" Dalzell went on, "that it would be awfully funny, wouldn't it, if that red Smattach belonged, not to Dodge, but to some fellow we've never seen before?" "It would be inexpressibly funny!" growled Tom Reade. "And what would be funnier than anything else would be our frantic efforts to make a satisfactory explanation." "We could be arrested for theft, couldn't we?" asked Greg, glancing up apprehensively from the side wall pegging. "Hardly that," replied Dick, with a shake of his head. "Theft, as I understand it, usually carries with it the sale of the plunder, or its concealment. We have hung up the tires where anyone who is interested may see them. Still, it would be awkward making explanations to strangers, and we'd all feel mighty cheap." "Then maybe we'll have our chance to feel that way," suggested Danny Grin, his mouth opening still wider. "Don't waste your time on pleasant thoughts, like that," grunted Reade. "Try to think of something sad." "If it's the Dodge car, could Bert make any trouble for us?" Darrin wanted to know. "Hardly," answered young Prescott. "We've simply played a clever trick on Dodge and Bayliss. As our excuse we could point out a trick they palmed off on us earlier in the day. We'd be quits. You needn't fear Dodge. Never, since that time when he got so awfully beaten over the assault charge he made against me, has he felt that he wanted to face me in court again." "You fellows wait here, and don't be worried if I don't come back soon," interposed Darry suddenly. "What are you going to do?" demanded Tom Reade. But Dave had slipped away. When he chose to be as mysterious as that, Dick Prescott knew better than to question his chum. Rapidly the work of straightening camp proceeded. Dave was back in a little more than half an hour. Yet he returned so noiselessly that he was in camp before the others realized his presence. "Well-----?" asked Dick eagerly. "Come into the tent, fellows," whispered Dave. When Darrin had them inside he went on, in a low voice: "It's the Dodge car, all right. I hid behind a tree nearby the car and waited until they returned. When they found the front tires missing they were furious. Bayliss said we fellows had done it, but Bert said he didn't believe we were anywhere near here as yet. I slipped away and left them arguing. Dodge wants Bayliss to walk to the nearest place where he can telephone to a garage to send a man out with new tires. Bayliss says it's the Dodge car, and Bert can do the walking. It looks as though they would come to blows, and, as I've been gently reared, with a distaste for fighting, I slipped away."