Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/314

 chuckled the third man. “Once we git the old hound I guess he’ll talk fast enough to save ye.”

Stanley remained silent, for he knew that while Abner would suffer any torture before he would tell his plans, the sight of either him or Bub being abused would loosen the old man’s tongue.

“Now we’ll go to roost,” announced Joe. Saying this he dragged the boys in between him and Pete and tied a rope onto their arms and legs which in turn he passed around his and his companion’s waists. This meant that if the boys sought to escape the least tug on the rope would arouse their captors.

“And if ye git uneasy in the night and wake me up by twistin’ ’round I’ll make ye sorry,” warned Pete, savagely.

“I guess it’s no go,” whispered Stanley in Bub’s ear as the two laid packed closely together.

“What worries me is Abner,” murmured Bub. “He is either captured or else he knows what is up and is keeping low.”

“Bub,” gasped Stanley in a horror filled voice, “What if he should be—”

“Don’t,” groaned Bub. “Big Nick hasn’t caught him yet, or he’d be coming into camp.