"Pate's client has stolen the widow's hog, and the lawyer is getting ready to abuse the owner of the property. Hark! What's that?"
There was a noise in the bushes, and two men sprang out with clubs in their hands, and ran towards Pate, loudly shouting,—
"Here he is! Catch him! catch him!"
Pate looked around, and then leaped from the stump and fled through the wood with the speed of a frightened antelope.
"Stop! stop! Halt! halt!" cried Toney and Tom.
The men halted, and coming towards them, were recognized as two laborers employed on the Widow Wild's estate.
"What were you going to do?" asked Toney.
"Give that fellow a good beating," said one of the men.
"What has he been doing?" inquired Tom.