"My opinion is that Baxter lost his life trying to get through the swamp," said James Monday after the hunt had come to a finish.
"What a horrible end," said Sam, and shivered.
"Perhaps he did lose his life," was Dick's comment. "But I shan't believe it until I have the direct evidence. I guess, though, I've seen the last of my watch," he added.
A search was kept up for several days for Baxter, but it brought no further traces of the misguided youth.
"He is gone, that's sure," said Tom. "I must say, I never thought he'd have such an ending as this!"
James Monday was much chagrined to think that Sack Todd had slipped him, but he was much elated when one of the posse found several packages among the rocks. These packages contained all of the printing plates used in the manufacturing of the counterfeit bank notes.
"The plates are what the government wants, most of all," he told the boys. "They were made by an old engraver who was once in the employ of the government. The man is too old and shaky to make other plates, and as Sack Todd isn't an engraver himself, it's not likely he will attempt to go into the business again."
As soon as all the criminals were properly jailed
