Page:Lippincotts Monthly Magazine-39.djvu/57

Rh and bream there is no end; and there are very good trout to be found in Pebble Brook. The shooting is also excellent in the season: only last year John actually bagged a deer.

Well, we had been discussing the feasibility of going out there this summer before the burglars were heard from, and John had been looking forward to it with particular good will; but, as he remarked a night or two ago at the dinner-table, "No use thinking of that now. Those fellows would be sure to hear of it, and they'd have the house gutted before we could get back."

"Maybe we can catch them before the summer's over," remarked Henry. "And, after all, it would be as good fun hunting them as stalking deer."

"I'm sure I hope you will let the police attend to that," said mother.

"Let us pretend to go, and then come back and surprise them," exclaimed Sinfire.

"By George, a good idea!" cried John. "The only trouble would be to make sure they heard we were going: we'd be certain of them then."

"That's easy enough," rejoined Henry. "We are all agreed that they are native here and to the manner born. I'll tell you how to do it. Drive into the village, and go about in the shops, buying a whole lot of things, and letting everybody know that we are going out to camp at the lake on a certain day. Give the news time to spread; then load up a couple of wagons, and drive off just before sunset, singing and blowing horns, so as to leave no doubt in the minds of their spies, if they're on the lookout. Then back again after dark with our shooting-irons, and it'll go hard but we'll see some fun!"

"But what do you expect Sinfire and me to do?" demanded mother, in some consternation. "Spend the night in the woods, in a wagon?"

"We can arrange to have you go quietly and put up at one of the neighbors'," said I.

"I want to be here!" exclaimed Sinfire. "Let me stay in the house."

"My dear, you would be murdered in your bed!" mother said.

"I shouldn't go to bed," she returned. "I should be perfectly safe; and I might be of some use."

"The house doesn't need ventilation, or you might shoot holes through the doors with your derringer," said Henry, laughing.

"I should open the door before shooting," said she, laughing back at him. "Otherwise I might happen to hit John, or you!"

"I wish you wouldn't all talk in this way," put in mother,