Another man joined the first, and the two looked angrily at the intruders. They were armed with shotguns.
“What do you want?” asked the second man.
“Oh,” said Nat lightly, “we just came to call on an acquaintance of ours—Jerry Chowden. The police back East would like to see him, and we’ve just told him.”
“That’s not so!” cried Jerry angrily.
“You’re afraid to go back,” added Jack.
“I am not! You mind your own business and clear out!”
“Yes, move on,” ordered the first man, but Jack noted that he looked closely at Jerry, as if to determine the effect of the charges made against the bully.
There seemed to be nothing else to do, and the boys turned back.
“Beaten again,” remarked Jack, as they headed for camp. “Well, there’s just one other way of discovering their secret.”