Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/382

 “Shut up!” hissed Ben. “Want to tell everything ye know?”

“But who’s to give it away if ye’re so sure we won’t be caught?” cunningly countered Joe.

“That ain’t the idee. Once a thing is done, let it remain buried. I never rake old coals onto the fire,” replied Ben.

“Say, ye two varmints. Going to kill me on a empty stomach?” cried Abner, raising his head. “Don’t ye realize I ain’t had anything to eat fer several weeks? If ye keep on this way I shall die nat’ral-like and ye’ll miss all yer fun.”

“Ye’ll live long enough to suit us,” grimly assured Joe, scowling maliciously at the veteran.

“Ye might bribe us with some of them pearls and gold ye was telling us about,” taunted Ben.

“Both on ye will look mighty smart in stripes,” mused Abner.

Before either could answer this with blow or curse a rifle echoed far off in the woods, and even as the men straightened and stared in the direction of the sinister sound there came another report.

“That settles ’em,” muttered Ben, rising to his feet, his hands trembling as he toyed with the rifle.