“Folks be a-worryin’ abeout us,” said one of them to Harry. “We didn’t calkerlate to stay out so late.”
When the brush was reached the farmers mounted their horses and rode down to the lean-to. Here they overhauled the traps left by the owners of the place and took along all of the blankets and many of the other articles.
“If yeou see them fellers, tell ’em tew call on Ira Goodsell, or Dick Pomfett, in Bagsville Deestrict, fer their things,” chuckled one of the farmers to Jack. “If they don’t allow as how they care tew call, let ’em stay about in the cold without nuthin’ tew keep warm o’ nights, ha! ha! ha!”
And with a laugh all around, the four farmers bade the boys good-by and rode away as fast as their farm nags would carry them.
“That leaves Pete Sully and his followers in a nice stew, truly!” laughed Andy. “I wonder how long they will care to camp out without blankets or cooking utensils?”
“It serves them right!” burst out Boxy. “They had no business to go robbing hen roosts and get us into such a mess of trouble.”
“Not to mention the fact that they carted our stuff off,” put in Harry. “But they are paid off now.”
“And as we have our traps and full possession of their lean-to, we ought not to complain.”
“Maybe dey will cum down on us durin’ de night,” suggested Pickles.
“I hardly think so,” returned Jack. “However, perhaps we had better stand guard. We can take turns of an hour and a half each, from nine o’clock on.”