It was but for an instant, however. With loud shouts of vengeance, three young men, wildly excited, issued from the door and made a bee-line for seven boys who had come to a stop at the summit of the hill.
Sladder, Musgrove and Bowser melted silently away into the sombre depths of the woods.
CHAPTER XXV
SELF-DEFENSE
The seven Kingswood boys after leaving the cabin stood irresolutely for a moment.
"Talk about being disgusted," sniffed Nat Wingate. "Did you ever meet such a queer chap as that Piper?"
"Listen!" exclaimed Tom Clifton, raising his hand. "Didn't I hear a voice?"
After a short discussion, the group began to ascend the hill. They kept a sharp look-out for the others, and once or twice shouted their names loudly.
Not being in a hurry and stopping at intervals to talk, the boys had managed to use up the better part of a quarter of an hour when a bark from Bowser indicated the position of Sladder and Musgrove.