"Don't yer believe him, Gassy," broke in still another of the disreputable men. "They act innocent-like, but you can bet they are mighty sharp."
"Come on back to the fire an' talk it over," said the tramp who had caused Harry to fall.
"I don't want to go back."
"Neither do I," came from Link. "If you don't let us go we'll make trouble for you."
"An' yer wants to go so yer kin tell on us, don't yer?" came from the fellow called Gassy.
"I don't know what you mean!"
"Ah, go on wid yer! You're from dat farmhouse over dare an' I knows it," growled the tramp. "Yer wants to go back an' say we got der chickens. But yer ain't goin' back so easy, see?"
"Do you mean to say you are going to keep us here?" asked Harry.
"Dat's wot—fer de present. When we gits ready ter move on den youse can go too—de udder way, see?"
The boys now realized at what the tramps were driving. They had stolen some chickens and they imagined the lads knew of this and wanted to bring somebody to the scene who could have them locked up. They wanted to hold the boys until they, the tramps, were ready to clear out for parts unknown.