Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/312

 villains had prepared to cook this at their original camp, but on finding traces of the cruisers had brought it with them. The kettle was snugly covered and buried in the coals and then packed over with earth.

“Thar!” admired Pete. “In the mornin’ that will be one of the best kettles of beans ye ever was denied a chance to taste.”

“Then you mean to starve us?” calmly asked Stanley.

“Mebbe yas and mebbe no,” slowly answered Pete. “It all depends on how glib ye talk in the morning. We are just trying to git ye into a sweet frame of mind so’s ye’ll answer a few questions. That’s all.”

“You all realize that you will pay a stiff price for this abuse?” warned Stanley, his jaw thrust forth as his fighting blood dispelled his fears.

All three laughed as if deeply amused. “What price can we pay, Sonny?” tantalized Joe between puffs. “Two younkers and a old man git lost in the woods and never come back. Who’s to blame?”

“So it’s murder, is it?” cried Bub. “You may kill us, but Noisy Charlie will have your scalps in return.”

The three men straightened and stared at