crease his pace. It could not be done. Every step
cost him an effort and it seemed that he could not take another. He
waddled crazily from one side to the other; and at last he came to a
stop, and with what strength remained, he faced his pursuers and threw up
his hands in an attitude of defense.

At arm's length, Hal and Chester came to a pause.

"So we have you at last, eh!" said the former.

"You--you keep a-away from me," gasped Stubbs, panting for breath. "I
don't want to have any tro--trouble with you."

"Perhaps not, Mr. Stubbs," said Chester, "but we want to have a little
trouble with you."

"Let me a-alone," gasped Stubbs.

Hal moved a step closer.

"Remember what you did to us?" he asked.

Stubbs stepped backward quickly.

"Don't you come any closer," he gasped. "Let me alone."

"Had us tied up, didn't you, Stubbs?" demanded Chester.

"Yes; but it was for your own good!" Stubbs had regained his wind now.

"For our own good, eh? Well, we have come after you for your own good."

"What have you got to say for yourself, Stubbs?" demanded Hal.

"Nothing," snapped the little man angrily, "except that I want to be let
alone. You hoodwinked the general, all right, but you can't hoodwink me.
Now go on away from here."

Again Chester stepped forward, and this time the lad was treated to an
unpleasant surprise. Instead of moving backward, Stubbs suddenly lowered
his head and charged Chester.

Taken by surprise, the lad was unable to get out of the way and the top
of Stubbs' head rammed him squarely in the stomach. Chester doubled up
and fell to the ground with a cry of pain.

Stubbs turned and started to run; but before he had taken half a dozen
steps, Hal had reached him and taken him by the arm. In vain the little
man struggled to shake off the lad's grasp.

"Hey, Stubbs!" cried Hal, laughing at the predicament in which Chester
found himself, "what's the matter that you've turned so pugnacious all of
a sudden? Getting to be a regular fighter, aren't you?"

"Well, he was just about to swat me," declared Stubbs.

Chester had now picked himself up and advanced upon Stubbs,
threateningly.

"Say!" he exclaimed; "what do you mean by using your head as a battering
ram on me?"

"I told you to keep away," returned Stubbs.

"I know you did; but that's no sign you should try to kill me. I wasn't
going to hurt you."

"Maybe not," said Stubbs, "but I wasn't going to take any more chances.
Now you keep