“Jud, you’ve got the thongs I supplied!” called out Paul, “so get busy, with Jack to help you, and tie their hands behind them. Slip those mitts on before you do it, because we’ve got a long way to go, and it would be cruel to have their fingers frost-bitten on the road to Stanhope.”
The men dared not offer any objections, though they kept using strong language, much to the disgust of some of the scouts.
“Paul, tell them that unless they close their mouths and quit that swearing we’ll gag them 242 both,” said Jack, unable to endure it any longer.
“I was just about to say that when you took the words out of my mouth!” declared the scout-master, indignantly. “I’ve got a couple of gags ready here, made for the occasion. If you know when you’re well off, you fellows, keep still, and accept your fate like men. You’re only going to get what you deserve after all.”
“It was a bad day for you both when you struck Stanhope,” said Jud, with one of his tantalizing grins. “I only wish I knew the tramp signs, so I could write a warning on every fence outside the town so’s to keep other hobo yeggs away.”
Having accomplished the object of their mission without any trouble they now went back to join their comrades, who were anxiously waiting for the signal Paul was to give in case their help was needed. And great was the disappointment of Bluff, Sandy, Frank, Spider and Phil when they found that they had been left out of the game.