"Brandon just told you," answered Nat, evasively.
"Oh, yes—but I'll be bound that wasn't all. Look at Musgrove—he can scarcely keep his face straight."
Silence followed this remark. It was broken by Rex Heydon, who observed, "I guess we can see through a wall when there's a hole in it. What are you afraid of?"
"Afraid?" Nat Wingate mechanically repeated the word, then came to a pause, looking considerably nonplussed.
Piper turned toward the smallest member of the Rambler Club and held up his finger. "Tom Clifton," he said, with a trace of anger in his voice, "I want to know exactly what that old trapper had to say!"
But Billy Musgrove interrupted. "What are you gittin' excited 'bout, Sniper?" he asked, the grin leaving his face. "Why do you want ter know what Pardsley says?"
"I'm not talking to you," snapped Piper.
"Come now—don't be scared, Tommy," he went on, encouragingly; "out with it. Wingate knows, but won't tell. Kind of lost his nerve, perhaps."
"You must think I lose my nerve pretty easily," laughed Nat.
"Well, it seems to me—that will do, Musgrove, if my English doesn't happen to please your scholarly mind, I can't help it—that you ought to be frank, Wingate. Your nature may be a little timid—some people are that way—and—"