Part 18 (2/2)
”We'll let them swing all together, now,” said Broom. ”When I give the word! Plenty of time, though! We'll let them have a minute or two to think it over.”
”NOW!” cried a voice in the woods beyond the small circle of light from Broom's electric torch.
A second later the click of falling hammers fell on the air. And, even as Broom turned, a dozen men stepped into the light, with leveled rifles, covering every one of the gang that Broom had gathered to make his trap.
”Fire if they make a single movement!” ordered Jim Burroughs. ”Good work, Pete! Release them now! You brought us here--it's only fair to let you turn them loose, you and Tom Binns.”
”Go ahead and shoot!” yelled Broom, suddenly, and made a dash for the woods. A dozen rifles spoke out, but he crashed away in the darkness, and one or two of the others ran also.
”He got away!” said Durland. ”Pretty bad shooting, Jim!”
”Well, you can't expect much from blank cartridges,” said Jim Burroughs, with a grin. ”We didn't have any loaded with ball, you know. It was just a bluff, but it worked pretty well!”
”But how did you get here at all?”
”Pete Stubbs and Tom Binns are responsible for that. They didn't like the idea of this expedition at all, and neither did I, when they told me about it. We stuck pretty close to you. But I wanted to make sure of Broom, or I'd have b.u.t.ted in before.”
THE BRADEN BOOKS
FAR PAST THE FRONTIER
_By_ JAMES A. BRADEN
The sub-t.i.tle ”Two Boy Pioneers” indicates the nature of this story--that it has to do with the days when the Ohio Valley and the Northwest country were spa.r.s.ely settled. Such a topic is an unfailing fund of interest to boys, especially when involving a couple of stalwart young men who leave the East to make their fortunes and to incur untold dangers.
”Strong, vigorous, healthy, manly.”--_Seattle Times._
CONNECTICUT BOYS IN THE WESTERN RESERVE
_By_ JAMES A. BRADEN
The author once more sends his heroes toward the setting sun. ”In all the glowing enthusiasm of youth, the youngsters seek their fortunes in the great, fertile wilderness of northern Ohio, and eventually achieve fair success, though their progress is hindered and sometimes halted by adventures innumerable. It is a lively, wholesome tale, never dull, and absorbing in interest for boys who love the fabled life of the frontier.”--_Chicago Tribune._
THE TRAIL of THE SENECA
_By_ JAMES A. BRADEN
In which we follow the romantic careers of John Jerome and Return Kingdom a little farther.
These two self-reliant boys are living peaceably in their cabin on the Cuyahoga when an Indian warrior is found dead in the woods nearby. The Seneca accuses John of witchcraft. This means death at the stake if he is captured. They decide that the Seneca's charge is made to s.h.i.+eld himself, and set out to prove it. Mad Anthony, then on the Ohio, comes to their aid, but all their efforts prove futile and the lone cabin is found in ashes on their return.
CAPTIVES THREE
_By_ JAMES A. BRADEN
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