Part 35 (1/2)

”Well, go home then!” snapped Werner. ”Go home this minute if you want to. I'm sick of having you around.”

”You'd do much better, Codfish, if you wouldn't train with fellows like Werner and Glutts,” remarked Jack.

”If I leave them will you fellows show me the way back to Timminsport?”

questioned the sneak of Colby Hall pleadingly. It was plainly to be seen that he had had no easy time of it since he had come up into the woods.

”That depends,” said Gif, and caught the youth by the wrist. ”Tell me, Codfish, were you at our Lodge the other day--the day the whole place was rough-housed?”

”No, I wasn't, Gif. Really and truly I wasn't!” cried the sneak, in alarm.

”Were Werner and Glutts alone?”

”Yes, yes! I had nothing to do with it!”

”See here, Codfish, you keep your mouth shut!” roared Glutts, and he moved forward as if to strike the small youth who cowered before him.

”You keep your distance, Glutts,” admonished Jack. ”If Codfish is tired of staying with you fellows, he's going to leave, and you're not to say anything about it.”

”What right had you fellows to smash those s...o...b..a.l.l.s down on us?”

questioned Werner, with an angry look in his eyes.

”What right had you fellows to come and upset Cedar Lodge, destroying some of our stores, and walking off with some of the others?” questioned Jack sternly.

”We didn't walk off with anything,” answered Werner quickly. ”What we did we had a right to do--to pay you back for what you did to our stores in the sleigh.”

”We didn't take any of your things,” put in Fred quickly; ”and a whole lot of our stuff is missing.”

”We didn't take a thing away--not a thing,” put in Glutts, and he smiled grimly to himself as he spoke.

”I know what they did!” cried Codfish quickly. ”If you'll take me along with you, and see that I get to Timminsport safely, I'll tell you where your things are.”

”You say a word, Codfish, and I'll lambaste the life out of you!” yelled Werner.

”You won't touch Codfis.h.!.+” broke in Jack st.u.r.dily. ”And if he wants to go with us, he'll go.”

”I want to go!” wailed the sneak. ”I don't want to stay with them another minute. But how am I to get my things that are up at their shack?” he questioned helplessly.

”Well go up there with you,” answered Gif.

A war of words followed, and then in uncontrolled rage Werner and Glutts attacked Jack and Gif. Half a dozen blows were exchanged, and then Glutts attempted to run away while Werner attempted to use the b.u.t.t of his gun as a club. Andy tripped Glutts up, and Spouter caught Werner from behind, and as a consequence of the general mix-up the two bullies received a well-deserved drubbing. Then their weapons were discharged and their ammunition was taken away from them, and they were told to march back to Tony Duval's shacks.

Here, as they expected, our friends had another set-to with the French-Canadian. Tony Duval wanted to take sides with Werner and Glutts, but the others would not listen.

”This young man is going with us, and he is going to take his things with him,” announced Gif, pointing to Codfish. ”If you make any trouble for us, Duval, I'll at once notify my father and my uncle, and likewise the authorities at Portview. Your reputation around here is already none of the best, and I'll see to it that you are treated as you deserve.”

”Bah! what do I care for you or your father or your uncle?” cried Tony Duval, in a rage. ”This is my property. You will leave it at once.”

”We'll leave when this young man has his things, and not before,”