Part 10 (2/2)

At once Jerry realized what his captors meant to do. They were going to tar and feather him!

CHAPTER IX.

TAR AND FEATHERS.

The prospect was far from pleasant to our hero. In spite of his bravery, he s.h.i.+vered as he saw the gang of masked boys start up a fire over which to heat the tar.

”So you intend to tar and feather me,” he said to the leader.

”You've struck it, Jerry Upton.”

”All right, Si Peters, do it, and you shall go to prison, mark my words.”

Jerry had only guessed at the ident.i.ty of the leader, but he had hit upon the truth.

”Who told you I was”--began Peters, and broke off short. ”You're mistaken,” he went on in his a.s.sumed voice.

”I am not mistaken, Si Peters. I know you, and you had best remember what I say.”

”Oh, you're too fresh, Upton, and we're going to teach you a lesson,” put in another of the crowd.

”A good coat of tar and feathers is just what your system needs.”

”We'll paint you up so artistically that even your own mother won't know you.”

”Not if I can help it,” muttered Jerry, under his breath.

A great ma.s.s of wood had been collected, and this gave a roaring fire and also afforded a good light for the workers.

On each side of the fire a notched stick was driven into the ground. A third stick was laid across the top, just beyond the flames. From this upper stick the pot of tar was suspended by an iron chain.

The heat soon began to tell on the tar. As it softened it could be smelled a long distance off.

”How do you like that smell?” asked Peters of Jerry.

”Oh, it's a good enough smell,” replied our hero, as coolly as he could.

”Never had a dose of tar before, did you?”

”I haven't had this dose yet.”

”That's so, but you soon will have.”

”Maybe not.”

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