This was the wood where Bud Heyland and Cyrus Sutton held their stolen interview the night before. The former was now in the immediate neighborhood, so that Fred Sheldon had reason to think something would be done in the same place before the close of day, or at most, before the rising of to-morrow's sun.  
No one could have been more familiar with this small stretch of forest than was our young hero, who did not take a great while to reach a point close to the other side.
 
He was near the road which wound its way through it, but was on the watch to escape being seen by any one passing by.
 
Having reached this point, Fred stood several minutes, uncertain what he ought to do. Evidently there was nothing to be gained by advancing further, nor by turning back, so he waited.
 
"I wonder where Bud has gone. There is something in the wood which he is interested in——"
 
The thought was not expressed when the rustling of leaves was heard, and Fred knew some one was near him. Afraid of being discovered, he shrank close to the trunk[Pg 197] of a large tree, behind which he could hide himself the moment it became necessary.
 
No doubt the person moving through the wood was using some care, but he did not know how to prevent the rustling of the leaves, and it is not likely he made much effort.
 
At any rate the advantage was on the side of Fred, who, a minute later, caught sight of a slouchy sombrero and briarwood pipe moving along at a height of five feet or so above the ground, while now and then the motion of the huge boots was seen beneath.
 
"It's Bud, and he's looking for something," was the conclusion of Fred, fairly trembling with excitement; "and it won't do for him to see me watching him."
 
The trouble was that it was now broad daylight, and it is no easy matter for one to shadow a person without being observed; but Fred had the advantage of the shelter in the dense growth of shrubbery which prevailed in most parts of the wood.
 
However, he was in mortal dread of discovery by Bud, for he believed the ugly fellow would kill him should he find him watching his movements.
 
It was this fear which caused the lad to wait a minute or two after Bud Heyland had disappeared, and until the rustling of the leaves could no longer be heard.
 
Then, with the utmost care, he began picking his way through the undergrowth, stopping suddenly when he caught the sound again.
 
The wood was not extensive enough to permit a very extended hunt, and when Fred paused a second time he was sure the end was at hand.
 
[Pg 198]
 
He was alarmed when he found, from the stillness, that Bud Heyland was not moving. Fred waited quietly, and then began slowly rising until he stood at his full height, and looked carefully around him.
 
Nothing could be seen of the bully, though the watcher was confident he was not far off, and it would not do to venture any further just then.
 
"If it was only the night time," thought Fred, "I wouldn't be so scared, for he might take me for a man; but it would never do for him to find me here."
 
The sudden ceasing of the rustling, which had betrayed the passage of Bud Heyland a few minutes previous could not be anything else but proof that he was near by.
 
"Maybe he suspects something, and is waiting to find whether he is seen by any one. Strange that in looking round he does not look up," whispered Fred to himself, recalling an anecdote which he had once heard told in Sunday-school: "Bud looks everywhere but above, where there is that Eye which never sleeps, watching his wrong-doing."
 
A boy has not the patience of a man accustomed to watching and waiting, and when several minutes had passed without any new developments, Fred began to get fidgety.
 
"He has gone on further, and I have lost him; he has done this to lead me off, and I won't see anything more of him."
 
But the boy was in error, and very speedily saw a good deal more of Bud Heyland than he wished.
 
[Pg 199]
 
The rustling of the leaves, such as is heard when one is kicking them up as he walks along, aroused the watcher the next minute, and Fred stealthily arose, and scanned his surroundings.
 
As he did so, he caught sight of Bud Heyland walking in such a direction that he was certain to pass close to him. Luckily the bully was looking another way at that moment, or he would have seen the scared face as is presented itself to view.
 
As Fred dropped out of sight and hastily crept behind the large tree-trunk he felt that he would willingly give the two hundred dollars th............