Part 15 (2/2)
The others agreed to this and separated, to gather again about one o'clock.
”Stumpy, you and Bart row,” suggested Ned. ”You need the exercise to keep you from getting fat, and Bart wants to keep in training for football next term.”
”Well, I like your nerve, Ned Wilding!” exclaimed Fenn.
”Same here!” came from Bart.
”I thought you would,” observed Ned coolly, as he went to the stern, prepared to steer.
”He and I will row back,” suggested Frank.
”That's right,--take the easiest part--come down with the current,”
growled Stumpy, but he took his place at the oars. Perhaps he thought he was getting too stout.
Bart grumbled some, but in a good-natured way, and ended by taking his place just ahead of Fenn, while Frank went to the bow, and soon they were underway.
They tied their boat in a secluded place about a mile above the Riffles and then struck off through the woods. It was two miles to Bender's Hill, a small mountain named after the man on whose property it was located, and it was the highest point in the vicinity. All about it, as well as on the sides and top of the hill, were dense woods, not often visited.
After some hard tramping through underbrush and over fallen trees, which the boys did not seem to mind (though they would have growled if they had been obliged to do it) they came to a little clearing. They were about to cross it when there came a sudden hail:
”You fellows can't come here!”
”I'd like to know why?” inquired Bart without seeing who had spoken.
”Because I'm here on guard to see that no one pa.s.ses,” and at that the boys glanced up, to see Sandy Merton, with a little target rifle in his hands, standing on the other edge of the clearing.
CHAPTER XIV
PECULIAR OPERATIONS
For a few seconds the boys were too surprised to make any answer. They saw that Sandy was standing in front of a tent, partly hidden by the woods.
”What are you talking about?” demanded Bart. ”Are you playing soldier, Sandy?”
”You'll see what I'm playing fast enough,” spoke the former member of the baseball nine. ”I tell you not to come across here.”
”Why not?” asked Fenn.
”Because I say so.”
”That's no reason.”
”I'll make it one. Don't you fellows get fresh with me. You think because you can run the high school, and the nine, you can boss me but I'll show you that you can't.”
”No one wants to boss you,” spoke Ned. ”You're making a big fool of yourself, Sandy.”
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