Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/307

 “We’ll make ye sing another tune in a few minutes. How’s yer mouth, Sonny.” The last to Bub.

“Didn’t you know, Stanley, I never gave that signal,” he asked, ignoring the man’s query. “Couldn’t you tell it wasn’t my answer? It seemed as if my heart would break when you kept coming ahead and not suspecting any danger.”

“I did suspect danger; or rather, I felt as if something had gone wrong,” replied Stanley. “I knew the signal didn’t sound right, but supposed the fault was with me.”

“Shut up that chinning,” commanded Joe.

“Three of the bravest fellows I ever saw,” admired Bub, his face flaming with anger. “So brave they jumped me from behind, never giving me a chance to defend myself.”

“We’ll give ye a different sort of a chance pretty soon,” grimly promised Pete.

“Let’s eat,” suggested the third man, rising lazily.

As he prepared bacon and potatoes, drawing on the cruisers’ store for the bacon, Joe and Pete held an earnest consultation, frequently pausing to listen for some signal from the forest.

“S’pose we’d better stay here till Nick