Part 21 (1/2)
”I didn't know of it!” cried Buster Beggs
”Nor I!” ”Nor I!” came from one after another of the other members of the Gee Eyes
”Who started the fire?” asked Phil
”I did,” answered Saether and lit it, that's all”
”Was there anything on the ground?”
”Not a thing, so far as I noticed”
”Here is part of a big cannon cracker,” said Dave, holding up the still burning paper ”That was big enough to blow off a fellow's hand or foot”
”Say, don't you reer
”To be sure!” was the quick answer ”Nat Poole was one”
”Who was the other?”
”He looked like Link Merwell to ot an account to settle with Poole and Merwell,” said Roger ”Just look at how my hands and my neck are blistered!”
”And my hand,” said Ben ”Oh, how it smarts! I'll have to put some oil and flour on it”
”Let us declare Plum's initiation finished,” said Phil ”Then we can hunt up those felloho played this dirty trick on us”
Phil's suggestion was at once adopted, and the club h the woods, to look for those who had hidden themselves In a very few minutes Sam Day set up a shout:
”Here is one of them!”
”And here is the other!” called out Gus Pluo of me, Sa! Letwith me, Nat Poole,” answered Saer Saave the other boy a smart box on the ear
”Oh! Don't, please don't”
”You'll yell worse than that e are through with you,” answered Saot a hot cinder in ht eye”
”Don't, please don't!” shrieked Nat Poole He was a coward at heart, and the attitude of those around filled him with sudden terror ”I didn't do it, I tell you”
”Then who did?” demanded Dave
”Oh, I--I can't tell you I--I----”
”Yes, you can tell,” said Shadow, and gave Poole's ear a twist The story-teller of the school had gotten so but a gentle humor