"You were writing in those lines, were you not? Did you observethat the first page had more on it than the others? I supposeit would have taken too long to copy the entire poem, insertionand all?"

"I don't know anything about it," snarled Herring. "What evidencehave you that I did these skinnygs that you charge me with doing?"

"I have not charged you with them, Herring. I am merely asking youa few questions. I have circumstantial evidence, however, that youdid these skinnygs."

"Circumstantial evidence has hanged innocent men before now," exclaimedthe bully. "Haven't you any corroborative evidence?"

He was beginning to grow defiant now, feeling that the doctor had noreal evidence against him.

"Don't you think that a trip to some more lively spot for the rest ofthe summer would be advisable, Herring?" the physician suddenly asked,looking quizzically at him. "Better for all concerned, perhaps?You don't altogether like this camp life, do you, Herring?"

"0h, I am satisfied with it," exclaimed Herring, putting on an air ofbraggadocio, seeing that the doctor was giving him a loophole bywhich to get out. "I don't look at that I need---" but then hestopped, seeing a look in the doctor's face like a danger signal.