“They’ll be as mad as hornets,” suggested Thad.
“Let ’em,” replied the other, “four guns are better than two, any day. Come on back to the fire right away.”
As they drew near, Allan whispered:
“He’s got it right now, Step Hen’s rifle, I mean. Reckon he asked to see it, and our chum handed it over. Chances are he won’t give it back again in a hurry. There, what did I tell you; he’s laid it down beside him, Thad?”
“Now’s our time to cut in, then,” said the patrol leader. “You watch out for Pierre, and don’t let him slip up on you, or there’ll be heaps of trouble. Cover him when I do the other. Ready? Then here goes.”
And ten seconds later those by the fire heard Thad call out in ringing tones.
“It’s your turn, Pierre and Hank Dodge, to hold up your hands. Quick now, or it’ll be the worse for you. The tables are turned—up with them!”
CHAPTER VIII.
A SCOUT SHOULD ALWAYS BE ON THE ALERT.
When the young scoutmaster chose to, he could put a world of meaning in his voice. And those two timber cruisers, upon seeing both guns covering them so steadily, doubtless realized that firearms are no respecter of persons; since a weapon fired by a lad is just as sure to make good, if held correctly, as though a mature man looked along the barrel.
And so they complied with the order, although grumblingly, and evidently loth to admit that a couple of boys had gotten the better of them.