"I'd ruther," responded the girl, ungraciously. "You gals are in my way in the tent."

Now this, of course, was ridiculous. It could mean but one thing: Liz was anxious to be alone in the cook-tent. And _why_?

Laura, however, merely said:

"Oh! very well. If you prefer not to be helped, Lizzie, that is all right."

And she walked away; but she did not lose sight of the cook-tent.

There was somebody there beside the maid-of-all-work, and Laura was sure she knew _who_.

Lil was inclined to feel abused. She thought that she should have been taken into the secret at the first.

"But see how you would have kicked," said the slangy Bobby. "Why!

you'd have wanted to go back home by the first boat."

"I don't think we ought to have stayed here with that man on the island," grumbled Lil.

"With the old professor tagging after him?" chuckled Jess. "My goodness! can there be anything more respectable than Old Dimple?"

"If he is, why is he mixed up with this bank thief?" asked Lil, bluntly.

"I don't believe the young man is any such thing," announced Laura, hearing this. "He doesn't look bad. And surely we can trust to the professor's judgment."

"And we ought to help Professor Dimp," said Nell. "Poor old man! I am sorry for him."

"Say! Old Dimple's a good sort," declared Bobby, enthusiastically.

"And he certainly stood up to that red-faced sheriff this morning--Oh, gee!" finished the tomboy, with a gasp. "Here he is now."

"Here's who?" squealed Lil, whirling around.

"Professor Dimp?" demanded Nell.

But it was the sheriff.

"'Scuse me, young ladies," he wheezed. "But I feel it my duty to s'arch this yere camp. If you ain't a-hidin' of that thar feller, ye won't mind my pokin' around a bit, will yer?"

Laura did not say a word. She stood up and looked over at Liz Bean.

For a moment the maid-of-all-work seemed petrified.

Then she dove for the growling Barnacle. She untied the rope with which he was fastened.

"h.e.l.lo!" exclaimed the puffing sheriff. "What's _that_ for?"

Liz held the Barnacle with difficulty; the dog bared his teeth at the sheriff and uttered a series of most blood-curdling growls.

"You come botherin' around _here_," said Liz, desperately, "an' I'll let him fly at ye!"

CHAPTER XXIV

THE BARNACLE TREES SOMETHING AT LAST

Both the girls of Central High, and their brothers and boy friends, in the camp across the lake, had believed the Barnacle to be "all bluff."

He was a fine dog for barking, as Short and Long had said, but he acted as though he thought his teeth had been given him for chewing his food, and for nothing else.

The savage way in which he bayed the sheriff, however, and tried to get at him as Liz held him in leash, was really surprising. It was no wonder that Sheriff Larkin started back and cried out in alarm.

"Don't you dare set that dawg on me, young woman!" he cried. "I'll have the law on yer, if yer do."

"He'll chaw yer up if I let him go," threatened Liz. "Git out o'

here!"

"Why, Lizzie!" gasped Mrs. Morse, coming to the door of the cabin, and speaking to the girl in a most amazed tone. "What does this mean?"

"He's a body s.n.a.t.c.her! he's a man hunter! he's ev'rything mean an'

filthy!" exclaimed the girl, her face red and her eyes blazing. Her appearance was really most astonishing. Laura would never have believed that "Lonesome Liz" could display so much emotion.

"Let him bother this camp if he dares!" went on Liz. "He was told by that old gentleman to keep away from here, wasn't he? Then let him run, for I ain't a-goin' to hold this dawg in much longer!"

It seemed that her threat would hold true. At every leap Barnacle made, he seemed about to tear the rope from her grasp.

"Missis!" yelled the sheriff to Mrs. Morse. "You'd better call that gal off----"

"She ain't got nothin' to do with it," declared Liz. "I ain't workin'

for her no more. I ain't workin' for n.o.body. I've struck, I have! You can't hold n.o.body responserble but me an' Barnacle."

"The gal's crazy!" squalled the sheriff, going rapidly backward, for the dog and Liz were advancing.

"Well, you won't shet me up in no 'sylum," declared Liz, grimly. "But ye _may_ send me ter the penitentiary."

"Did you ever hear the like?" gasped Lil, clinging to Nellie and Jess. "That girl's mad."

"She is brave," muttered Jess. "But--but I wonder what she's up to?"

Laura did not question the maid-of-all-work. She thought she already knew. There was method in Lizzie's madness, that was sure!

She was driving the bullying sheriff away from the cook-tent--away from the camp, indeed. He was going sideways like a crab, and Barnacle was growling and almost choking himself as he tugged at his collar.

"Git out! Scat!" exclaimed Liz. "I'm a-goin' to let this dawg _go_!"

"Don'cher dare!" shouted Sheriff Larkin.

But the girl deliberately stooped over Barnacle, and began to unfasten the rope. At that the officer of the law turned and lumbered down the hill.

Where his companions were the girls did not know. And the barge with the bloodhounds had been poled off sh.o.r.e a few rods. The keeper was sitting on it and calmly smoking his pipe.