Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/137

 rifle and sank to the floor. It was Stanley who unfastened the bar and greeted the two men.

“What ye think ye’re doing?” rebuked Abner, picking up the rifle and standing it in the corner. “Want to murder us?”

“One boy afraid,” said Charlie, rearranging the fire.

“I’ll admit I was quite frightened,” generously said Stanley.

“He wasn’t,” doggedly denied Bub. “I was scared out of my boots and wanted to climb through the winder. I thought it was Big Nick and his gang. Stanley kept me here against my will. Said it was orders and he’d obey if he was killed.”

“Good for him,” cried Abner.

“Both good boys. Good for boy to git big scare,” added Charlie, over his shoulder.

“Wal, I’m sorry Bub couldn’t take our word for it that we’d keep between him and Nick,” said Abner.

“Boy fool to leave cabin. Boy wise to be scared,” said Charlie.

“We didn’t expect you to-night,” defended Stanley. “We both thought it was an enemy.”

“We followed Big Nick nearly to Cupsuptic river and felt sure he was headed for the