"If one of that crowd is Si Voup it is more than likely they kidnapped us so that we wouldn't be able to play that game of ball to-morrow."
At this statement the captain of the Lakeports grew more interested than ever.
"I wonder if they really would resort to such a trick," he mused. "It hardly seems possible. There isn't enough in it."
"I don't know about that. Remember, Si and his friends have been betting pretty heavily on the result."
"That is true, and come to think of it he was very particular to have it understood that the game must come off exactly at the appointed time."
"It's a contemptible trick!" sniffed Fred. "When they come back I am going to give them a piece of my mind."
"No, don't do that, for it may only get us into worse trouble. Act as if you thought they were tramps. That will throw them more off their guard than ever."
"If it's one of Si Voup's tricks he must have hired Dan Marcy to help him."
"I guess Marcy was only too willing to help—to get square for what we have done in the past against him. Another thing, Marcy may have money on the game, too. I've heard that he often bets at race tracks and other places."
By this time the three masked fellows were coming back and Joe and Fred changed the subject.