"Lying down on the hay, if you must know," returned Carden. "I got turned out of my boarding-place because I couldn't pay my board, and I thought Old Turnip-Top here wouldn't mind my getting a free bed lying on his hay." "That's a lie," said Tarbox, in excitement; "you've got my money in your pocket—three or four hundred dollars." "Where did I get hold of it? Do you keep money in your barn?" sneered the canvas man. "Carden, it's no use pretending ignorance; you found out that our friend here had money concealed under the barn floor—Charlie saw you spying this afternoon—and you thought to-night would be a good chance to secure it." "So that boy blabbed about me, did he?" said Carden, with an evil glance at Charlie. "He'd best look out, or I'll serve him as I did—" Here he stopped short; but Charlie finished his sentence for him. "As you did Rob to-night," he added; "that's what you mean." "I don't know what you mean," said the canvas man, finding he had said too much. "You know well enough!" said Anak, sternly, for he liked Robert, and was incensed against the man who had tried to do him such grievous harm. "You know well enough what the boy means; you were seen in the tent this evening, and it was you who threw the rock at Robert Rudd's horse." "You can't prove it, and it's a lie!" said Carden, defiantly. "Make him give up the money," said the farmer, impatiently, for he cared nothing for Carden's attempt to injure our hero. "I'll give it up if you'll let me go," said the canvas man. "You're not in a position to make terms," said Anak. "We promise nothing." "Then you won't get it," he returned, doggedly. "We won't, eh?" Anak, for he was the speaker, threw him down, and held his hands and feet as in a vise, while Tarbox, at his invitation, thrust his hands into the thief's pocket and drew out the gold and silver coins by handfuls. Carden ground his teeth, but he felt that resistance was vain. He was a strong man, but Anak had the strength of three ordinary men, and he was disposed to exert his strength to the utmost on this occasion, not only because he was opposed to dishonesty, but because he had in his grasp the man who had assaulted Robert. "Have you got it all, Mr. Tarbox?" asked Anak. "Wait and I will count it," answered the farmer. "Some of the money was mine," growled Carden. "Was it? How much?" "Ten dollars," answered the canvas man, after a moment's thought. "That's too thin, Carden, and doesn't tally with your first story. You said you laid down on the hay in the barn because you had no money and were turned out of your boarding-house." "Oh, you're too smart," muttered the baffled thief. "I think we shall prove too smart for you to-night. Well, Mr. Tarbox, how about the money?" "It's twenty-five cents short," said Tarbox, disturbed. "Oh, well, if you have come as near it as that you are lucky. Now let us be going." "But I don't want to leave it here; some one may find it."