They had demanded money of the bully, and he gave them a dollar, fearing violence if he refused them.
Baxter now thought of the tramps, and as he did so an evil look crossed his face.
"If only I can pay off Tom Rover," he muttered. "I'll do it if I can."
Soon the tramps' encampment was reached, and he found two of the men dozing before a tiny fire, with an empty liquor bottle between then the third tramp had gone to Cedarville for more liquor.
"Wake up here," cried Baxter, catching first one and then the other by the shoulder.
"What do yer want, young feller?" demanded the leader of the party, who rejoiced in the name of Stumpy Nuggs.
"I want you two men to help me lay a boy out," answered Dan Baxter, feeling that there was no use in mincing matters, for he knew that the tramps were a bad crowd.
"Lay a boy out?" repeated the second tramp, who was called
Longback.
"Yes, he is an enemy of mine, and just passed on the road yonder. If you will help me thrash him and make him a prisoner, I'll give you each five dollars."
"Say, yer talkin' big," said Stumpy Nuggs.