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 they have it writ up in the books that we three sha’n’t return to the mills. So far as I know they may have bagged Noisy Charlie on his way back.”

The professor shook his head firmly. “I don’t fear that,” he said. “I’ve known Charlie ever since I’ve been here. You can’t catch him napping; especially when he realizes what he is confronting.”

“And ye say ye saw nothing, or heard nothing when ye was up there?” asked Abner, seemingly fascinated by the possible dangers of the trip.

The professor paused and pursed his lips thoughtfully. “Well, I’ll say this: I know I was watched and followed. I believe it was by some agent of Nace’s. But I was not molested in any way. What might have happened if I had discovered anything I cannot say. I saw no one, but I came upon signs that told me enough. If I had been an experienced woodsman I could have read much more from those signs, I have no doubt.”

Abner shook his head dolefully. Then he declared, “I’ll fix up some yarn about gitting a message back to the mills and send the boys with it. Then I’ll go on alone, and if anyone is hurt it’ll only be old Abner Whitten. And