"Good thing for him that he did. I don't hold with bein' asked questions."
"Me neither. A good rap over the dome for anybody that wants to know too much—that's my motto."
"Is that mulligan ready?"
"Not yet. We'll be eatin' in about five minutes."
Frank turned and gestured to the others, indicating that they might as well withdraw. It seemed clear to him that these men were simply tramps preparing their evening meal in the shelter of the woods, and nothing would be gained by making their presence known.
Jack Dodd and Joe turned and moved silently away, but the luckless Chet had not gone two paces before he tripped over a root and fell sprawling on the ground, with a grunt of pain and surprise.
One of the tramps looked up.
"What was that?"
"Somebody in the bushes," said another.
The two men scrambled to their feet and came directly toward the boys. Jack and Joe took to their heels, but Frank waited to help Chet up and the delay was fatal. The tramps came crashing through the bushes and caught sight of them.