"What is it?" he asked; "didn't think you saw a ghost, again, eh?" Thad shook his head. "Nope. This was a live ghost, I reckon. And he had a fiery red-top in the bargain," he said positively. Immediately Maurice understood what ailed him. "A man with a red head of hair; and you think it might be the same fellow that tried to rob us yesterday up-river? Is that it?" "Sure it is," replied Thad. "But you know there are lots of men with red hair?" protested his comrade. "Yes, but not with that nasty laugh. You heard it when he paddled away, thinkin' he had the stuff; and I heard him give the same kind of laugh just when he dodged into that shack." "He did, eh? Funny I didn't happen to hear it. What made him laugh this time, d'ye suppose, Thad?" "Ask me something easy, will you? P'raps he was tickled to see old friends again. Then, again, mebbe the notion struck him that after all the fish that got away the other time was comin' straight into his net. All I know is he laughed; and that it's the same critter!" When Thad was positive it took mountains to change his opinion. But then Maurice did not see that there was anything improbable in the idea, since the thief who had visited them had rowed down river, and just as likely as not had his home at Morehead. "Well, come along, pard. Even if it is our old acquaintance, he'd better think twice before trying to hold us up," he remarked, giving a pull at the other's sleeve. "But he knows what we've got along. He may tell some others just as tough as himself; and how could we hold up our end if half a dozen tackled us?" grumbled Thad, as he stalked along at the side of his chum. "Shall we go back, then?" asked the other. "Nixy. I don't care if there's a dozen coming, we're going to get to George all right. You hear me, Maurice." "That's the right way to speak. But, after all, perhaps we won't have the least bit of trouble. Didn't you hear Mr. Stallings say the sheriff was abroad with a posse, looking for rascals. Strikes me that this wouldn't be a good time for our friend to try any of his tricks. They use a rope down here for a remedy. Jails are played out. There's no need of bothering any, Thad." So they walked briskly along the road, which was, after all, not much of a thoroughfare, and required close watching lest they stray away and lose themselves. But the storekeeper had given plain directions, so that with proper diligence they should not have any trouble about keeping along the right path. Although Thad had appeared to agree with his chum that there was no need for worry, it might be noticed that he let Maurice do most of the looking for the right signs that were to safeguard their course. On his part he felt that necessity demanded that he twist his head just one in so often and scan the rear.