"Stop him!" burst from several lips, and away went Dan and myself in pursuit, with the others following in short order.
But the sailor had the start of us, and with a vision of arrest in his mind, continued to run with all the speed at his command. Reaching the brook, he leaped over and made through a hedge lining the highway; and that was the last we saw of him for the time being.
"I wonder if he got away with anything," was Mr. Raymond's query, as he gathered up the spoons, which had been scattered in all directions. "He probably got these from the dining-room sideboard. I'll take a look inside."
He and Oliver entered the residence, while we hunted outside, to see if there were any more undesirable strangers at hand. It was late in the afternoon, and by the time we rejoined the Raymonds it was dark.
"Four silver napkin rings and a gold-plated fish-knife missing," announced Mr. Raymond. "Thank fortune, the loss is not greater."
"I don't believe that fellow was asleep at all," I ventured. "When I spotted him he thought to play a game on me."
"If that is so, I wonder if he heard our talk about the Cave of Pearls?" put in Dan.
"Oh, I hope not!" burst out Oliver. "He would be just the kind to blab it to some of
