Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/133



was half way through the small window when Stanley caught him by the leg and pulled him back and relieved him of his rifle.

“We remain here,” he announced.

“Let me go! I must git out! I’ll face "em in the open, but won’t be cooped up in here!” cried Bub in a frenzy.

Stanley shifted his hold to Bub’s shoulder, saying, “Abner said we were to stay here till he came back. Here we stay.”

“Don’t you hear them?” whispered Bub, his eyes gleaming with fear. “Don’t you remember how Big Nick hates me? I must escape from here, Stanley. Let me go.”

“This is our place,” slowly replied Stanley, passing around his companion so as to block the window. “Abner said stick to the shack. I can be of little help in the woods, but I’ve got brains enough to obey orders.”

“I tell you, Big Nick will kill me,” cried Bub.

“Then he’ll kill me,” stoutly returned 112