Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/232

210 of this society to pull out tacks with your fingers," and then a laugh went up, in which Dave, Roger, and Ben joined.

"Seize number one!" was the cry, from a corner, and in a twinkling Dave found himself caught by three of the members of the club. Then the other candidates were hustled away, to some place unknown.

Feeling that he might be handled roughly if he resisted, the country lad submitted quietly.

"Art thou prepared to meet thy doom?" was the question asked of him, amid a death-like silence.

"Why, yes, please introduce me," he answered brightly, and this retort brought forth a snicker.

"Thou shalt have thy choice, base slave, to be cut up or burned up. Which? Speak up!"

"If it's all the same, I'd like to be burned up," he answered as cheerfully as ever. "Do you know why?"

"Why?" came from behind him.

"It will save funeral expenses." And then there was another snicker.

"Away to the funeral pyre with him," was the next command, and a moment later, still blindfolded, Dave was led from the old boathouse and into the woods skirting the river. Here he was made to walk around in several circles, until he imagined that they were taking him quite a