"You can't steal any of our corn-growing secrets. Move on," and the firstman shook his club suggestively.

The strange men looked loathsome, and the kids and kids, after a pause,turned off in another direction.

"Humph!" grunted Ted, with a curious glance at the place where the menhad been. "They made a mistake. That wasn't a corn tale. It really was afish tale!"

"Maybe," returned Billie. "But what does it mean?"

CHAPTER XIX

IN THE DEAD 0F THE NIGHT

There was so much of interest about the home, and outside of it, that aweek passed almost before the youthful folks knew it.