"Much obliged fur the grub," he added. "I reckon I'll take a sleep now, so's ter pull out at daybreak."

"Look here, Kyle Sparwick," said Thomson. "We happen ter need an extry hand badly. Can't you stay a day or two?"

Sparwick pulled at his short beard.

"I'm afeard not," he replied, slowly. "I've got pressin' business down at----"

Bang! the window came down with a crash as Jerry's fingers knocked the plug of wood from under it. The frightened boys jumped back. They heard excited shouts and cries inside.

"Come on," exclaimed Hamp. "We must face the music. I think we're sure of square treatment."

He led his companions around the angle of the house. Just as they reached the door it was flung open by a noisy crowd of loggers.

The boys were dragged inside, and clamored at by a dozen indignant voices. They tried vainly to explain. Finally Thomson restored a semblance of order, and quieted the mob.

"Now, what does this here mean?" he demanded. "You chaps were sneakin'

an' spyin' outside that winder. Don't deny it."

"We didn't mean any harm," stoutly protested Jerry. "We can explain our actions. We came here after our sleds. There they are in the corner, and that's the man who stole them from us three hours ago."

He singled out Sparwick from the crowd, and pointed at him.

The detected thief was in a tight place, but he was not prepared to give up. He made a bold attempt at bluffing.

"Them sleds are mine," he cried. "I'll wring yer neck, you young liar."

He sprang forward, and seized Jerry by the collar. He lifted him clear off his feet, and swung him in air.

A chorus of indignant cries rang out. There was a rush from all sides.

"Drop the youngster," yelled Thomson; and when Sparwick refused to obey, he struck him forcibly on the arm.

Jerry dropped to the floor, and quickly regained his feet.

"I'm telling the truth," he cried, huskily. "Those are our sleds. I can describe every article on them."

The ruffian made another rush at the lad, but was jerked back. The loggers seemed to be against Sparwick to a man. Evidently they knew his reputation.

"Sit down thar," commanded Thomson, pointing to a chair. "An' don't yer make no sneak fur the door. We'll get to the bottom of this affair. Now, youngsters, spin your yarn."

The boys needed no second bidding. They spoke by turns, and gave a clear and convincing account of their unpleasant adventure. They did not forget to describe the thrilling slaughter of the deer. This part of the narrative caused the loggers to open their eyes and stare incredulously. They slapped their h.o.r.n.y hands against their knees.

"That chap tells a heap what ain't true," said Sparwick, when Jerry had finished the concluding part of the tale. "I found the sleds, an' reckoned their owners had lost 'em. As fur me shootin' at the lads--why, that's the biggest lie of all. I never laid eyes on 'em until now."

But no one seemed to believe the rascal. Indeed, they heaped him with ugly names, and made not a few unpleasant threats. Thomson interfered in behalf of peace.

"Everybody knows that Kyle Sparwick can't keep his hands off other people's property," he said. "He's seen the inside of more'n one jail.

Thar's where he oughter go this time, only I reckon no one's goin' ter take him down ter Bangor. Now, I've got a propersition ter make -pervided it suits these youngsters. If Kyle Sparwick will agree ter do a week's work here we won't prosecute him."

This suggestion was approved.

"What's yer answer, prisoner?" demanded Thomson.

"I reckon it's yes," muttered Sparwick.

He added something in an undertone as his evil eyes glanced at the boys.

"Then the thing's settled," said Thomson. "You can tuck yerself into that bunk yonder just as soon as you please. And now about that kill of deer. We ain't had any fresh meat fur quiet a spell, an' I reckon it'll taste good. Here's a propersition for you, youngsters. We'll bring the venison to camp, an' give you all you kin carry. The rest we'll keep fur our trouble. How's that?"

The boys gladly a.s.sented, and ten minutes later half-a-dozen of the loggers started for the distant spot. They took with them lanterns, and a long hand-sled. There was no time to lose, for wolves were likely to scent the meat.

Thomson stayed behind and made himself agreeable to the young visitors.

He soon knew all about them, and when he heard they were going to Chesumcook Lake, he gave them some valuable information about the locality.

Then he instructed the cook to prepare a warm supper, of which the boys ate greedily.

It was now close to midnight, and they eagerly took possession of the cozy bunks that were a.s.signed to them. The last thing they remembered, before losing consciousness, was Kyle Sparwick's sleeping figure in another bunk across the room.

Banging and rattling of dishes; clattering footsteps; angry voices and shouts--this was what roused the boys after what seemed to them but a few minutes' sleep.

They tumbled out of bed, and rubbed their eyes. At first they did not know what to make of the confusion. The misty light of dawn was struggling with the red glow from the cook's stove. The loggers were up, and cl.u.s.tered together at one side of the room. They were clamoring, and gesticulating, and uttering tremendous threats and oaths.

"h.e.l.lo, youngsters!" cried Thomson. "Hev you heard the news? That consarned slippery cuss is gone. We might a-knowed better than to put any trust in Kyle Sparwick."

"How did he get away?" asked Jerry.

"Dunno. He must a-skipped off as soon as we wus all asleep--long about two o'clock. He made a dummy outen a blanket, and an old hat, an' stuck it in his bunk. There was a lamp burnin' dim on the table, too."

"I mind hearin' a noise," said a logger named Tommy Bobb; "but I was too sleepy to do more'n sing out, 'Who's thar.'"

"You must a-skeered him," declared Thomson, "an' that's why he didn't take nothing with him--not even his own gun. Thar it rests on the hook."

"He took something better than a gun," exclaimed Brick, who had meanwhile been examining his pocket. "He took my gold watch, and a purse with thirty dollars in it. I had some more money in a belt, but that's all right."

This declaration caused a renewal of the excitement. The loggers sympathized with Brick, and offered him rude consolation.

"How about you fellers?" asked Tommy Bobb of Hamp and Jerry.

They shook their heads and smiled. The contents of their pockets would have offered no temptation to the meanest sort of a thief.

"I don't mind the money," said Brick; "but I hate to lose the watch. I'm going after that sneaking rascal."

"No use, youngster," a.s.sured Thomson. "Sparwick has a big start. He took an old boat what we had here, an' went down the Mallowgash. He'd have clear water fur four miles. Then I reckon he'd strike deep inter the woods. If thar was a chance of gettin' him we'd make up a party. How's that, boys?"

"Dead right," exclaimed the loggers, in chorus.

Brick accepted this as final. He was anxious to start for the lake, however, and so were Hamp and Jerry.

But just when breakfast was over the party returned with the dead deer and the wildcat. This caused a delay. As soon as possible the deer were skinned and cut up, and the meat divided. The boys were given all they could carry.