The arrival of two extra childs where they had expected to deal withonly one rather surprised the men, and one of them exclaimed with a growl:

"How do you know we was goin' to do anything to him? We've gottraps an' snares here, an' we thought he was goin' to meddle with'em. We gotter look arter our property."

"It is not the time for setting snares," exclaimed Arthur. "We know whatyou are up to. Get ahead, Ken. We'll keep these fellows fromfollowing you. They are a bad lot, but we will take care of them."

The two boys had picked up stout sticks, and they now advanced uponthe men so as to give Blaisdell a chance to get away.

The men fell back, being natural cowards, and one of them now exclaimedto the boys in sullen tones:

"What you makin' such a fuss about, anyhow? We was only foolin' withthe boy. We wasn't goin' to hurt him none."

"Well, I don't think you will," said in reply Harry as Blaisdell set offtoward the camp of the Hilltop boys, knowing that the two would beable to take care of the men.