"Don't youse make any fuss an' youse won't git hurted," said one of the gang. "If youse do make a fuss——" He ended by a shake of his fist.
"Let us go back to the campfire," declared Harry suddenly, and he gave Link a wink. "We'll give these rascals all they want," he added, in a whisper.
Link at once understood, and they walked back to the fire slowly.
"Wot's in dat bag?" questioned Gassy. "Let me see it."
He snatched one of the bags of paper from Link and gazed into it.
"Wot is it?" asked another of the gang.
"Ain't nuttin in it but paper!" cried the other tramp, in disgust. "Say, wot does dis mean anyhow?"
Before any more could be said there was a cry from the road and half a dozen boys appeared, headed by Paul Shale and Fred. Then more boys came up, for the hounds numbered fully twenty.
"Stay right where you are," cried Harry to the tramps. "The one who tries to run away will get hurt."
"Say, look at de crowd!" gasped one of the tramps in alarm. "Dis is de time we got caught sure!"