"The upper road," decided Pepper, "it runs through the woods, but it's by far the shortest way."
With a whistle the boy started off along the thoroughfare at a good pace. "Look for me at 1 sharp," he called back as he went off.
He had gone perhaps a quarter of a mile on his way when, as he was passing a small clump of bushes by the side of the road, there was a rustle behind the bushes, and a voice cried:
"Halt!"
Pepper, however, broke into a run which carried him past the clump, when again came the command:
"Halt, or I'll shoot!"
The boy hesitated for a moment as to whether he should stop or run, and as he did so Gerald and Jack came out upon the scene.
"Did we scare you?" asked Gerald.
"No," replied Pepper stoutly, "I thought it was a joke."
"We just wanted to test your courage," said Jack.