Page:November Joe.pdf/102

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THE SEVEN LUMBER-JACKS

"Yes."

"That told me. A man with a weight upon his back always does it. And when I saw the stones that had been raked up out of the riverbed, why, there it was like print and plainer—that the robber was a light man. That got me as far as to know it was one of two men did it. Chris and Bill Mavers is n't sizeable, either of them; they're smallish made. It were one or other, I knew. Then, whichever it was, after he got the money, what did he do with it?"

"Took it with him or hid it," said I, as November seemed to expect a reply.

"When I comes to think it over, I was pretty sure he hid it. Cos if there'd happened to be any argument or quarrel or trouble about it there might 'a' been a search, and if the notes had 'a' been found on one of them, they'd have dropped him, sure. Next point was, where did he hide it? There was the rocks and the riverbank and the hut. But it was all notes, therefore the place'd have to be dry; so I pitches on the hut. That was right, Mr. Quaritch?"

"I could n't have guessed better myself," I said, smiling.

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