"He'd better not get too uneasy," remarked Frank significantly. "Come on, girls," and the girls, who had been getting more and more nervous as the talk proceeded, were glad enough to precede the boys off the disputed territory. The man stood sullenly watching them, while the dog growled deep in his throat.
"Well, you had quite an adventure; eh?" asked Will when they were out of earshot of the man.
"Yes, and I was so afraid something would happen," said Grace. "He came upon us so suddenly!"
"Evidently Mr. Jallow means to contest this land business!" exclaimed Allen. "I should like to look into this matter myself. I don't like the looks of those stone piles."
"Father is sure there has been some unlawful change in the boundary line," spoke Grace. "But it is hard to prove. Oh, if we could only find that old lumberman, Paddy Malone."
"Perhaps we may come across him in our wanderings," suggested Mollie.
"Did you boys have any luck hunting?" inquired Betty, when the details of the encounter with the man had been given.
"Not a luck!" exclaimed Will. "We all fired at one poor little rabbit, and he ran home and told his mamma on us, I guess."
"Well, you won't go hungry," said Amy.
"Why, are you girls going to invite us over to lunch?" asked Will quickly. "That's great, fellows! For this unexpected pleasure—many thanks!" and he bowed low.