"Hope it didn't?" shouted Little. "I hope it did!"
"But I don't want to pay for his old dog."
"Pay for it! Are you dopy, daft, or what's the matter with you? Why, that man had a spring gun set, and it would have filled you full of shot if you hadn't tripped!"
"He had a right to set a spring gun in his own shed to protect his turkey roost from marauders."
The boys stared at Frank in amazement.
"Say, Merriwell," said Uncle Blossom, gravely, "you're an enigma. Great poker! The idea of calling us marauders!"
"What else were we?"
"Boys, it is our duty to take him out and hold him under under the hose!"
"Gentlemen," said Jack Diamond, who was present, "you will have a real lively time if you try to do it. I fully agree with Mr. Merriwell that the farmer had a right to protect his property."
"Whe-e-ew!" whistled several lads, and then they all cried together: "Goodness, how the wind blows!"