“Sure thing!” his companion breathed. “We’ve got to get him!”
“Listen,” proposed Barry, rapidly. “You sprint for the lodge and get the twins. Bring the guns with you. I’m going to watch that tool house so that the man doesn’t get out and give us the slip. Step to it!”
Kent needed no urging. He was a little too stiff to run well, but he did the best he knew how and covered the distance from the woods to the lodge in fairly good time. The porch creaked as he ran across it, and he threw open the front door without ceremony. Then he received a surprise as he came face to face with the twins.
They were standing in the cold hall, and Tim held the lamp, which Mac had just lighted. The poker was on the floor at Mac’s feet, and they turned with startled faces as Kent dashed in at the door. Then Tim’s face darkened with anger.
“Oh, it was you fellows, after all,” he began, with some heat. But Kent interrupted him.
“It was like fun! There is a man hiding in the tool house. We saw him run around the lodge. Get the rifles and come on! Barry is watching the tool shed!”
The twins lost no time. Mac forgot about the poker and ran into the living room, returning with the rifles and his hat and Tim’s.
“How about the lamp?” Tim asked, as he seized his hat.
“Leave it here,” Kent returned, curtly. “I have my flashlight. Come on!”
They raced across the front porch and jumped into the snow, the twins shivering with cold as they came in contact with the outside air. Barry had moved in from the timber and was standing near the back porch. Mac tossed him his rifle, which he caught on the run. Tim had taken the poker, and Kent had his rifle. Mac alone was not armed, but Kent passed the flashlight to him.