Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/233

Rh. Then they brought him back to a horse-shed standing just behind the boathouse.

"Here is the house," said somebody, in a low tone.

"Will we dare to burn it down?" came from another.

"Sure, nobody owns it," came from somebody else. "Tie him fast, and be quick about it."

"Be careful, we don't want to burn him too much," came in an intense whisper, but meant to reach Dave.

"Oh, a few good scars won't hurt him," was the answer. "It will give him something to remember his schooldays by."

Dave heard every word, but he made no protest. He was bound to stick it out to the end, no matter, what happened.

"I'm sure they won't really hurt me," he told himself. "Anyway, I'm not going to yell until I'm hurt."

Pretty soon Dave smelt smoke, and then he was tied fast to a post, so that he could not move hand or foot.

"Now, a lasting farewell!" was the cry. Then the members of the Gee Eyes left the vicinity, talking earnestly among themselves.

The smoke kept growing thicker, until Dave had to cough. Then he felt his hands and feet getting hot.