Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/371

 shrieked Abner as he caught the significance of Ben’s declaration.

“Easy, easy, Mister Man,” grinned Pete. “We ain’t hired to protect strangers in these woods. We left the young men in good condition. We’re not to blame if a half-breed uses ’em up.”

“Ye’ll git a life sentence fer it, mark me that. And if the men at the mills git at ye first ye’ll swing, even if they don’t hang fer murder in Maine.”

“Is that so?” laughed Joe. “And who's going to tell on us?”

“I be,” roared Abner.

“Tie his arms and drag him along,” directed Pete. “We’ll camp over on the ridge. Joe, explain to Nick what he can and what he can’t do. No bringing the kids to us, ye know.”

With head bowed Abner stumbled along with his captors. He had no doubt but what to save themselves from a state-prison term they would kill him. He would have been glad to promise to drop the whole matter if they would only release the boys. He would have kept the promise, but he knew it was idle to make it, as they would never believe him. To them there was but one way out; the cruisers must never