At last Mr. Upton went to catch him by the collar, but just as he did so
the dog gave a short bark and picked up something from among the bushes.

"Hullo!"

No wonder the old farmer was surprised. The article Towser had discovered
was a sling-shot Jerry often carried with him.

"Must have come in here," mused Farmer Upton.

Then of a sudden he began to examine the ground. It was soft in spots and
plainly showed the footmarks of Jerry and the Si Peters' crowd.

"He's in trouble!" said the old farmer to himself. "Maybe some tramps have
carried him off and robbed him."

Urging on the faithful dog, Mr. Upton hurried along the path through the
woods, leaving the horse tied to a tree.

It was an uneven way, and he stumbled many times. But he did not mind--his
one thought was to reach his son and find out the boy's condition.

Towser ran ahead, howling dismally at every few yards. But the faithful
dog did not lose the scent.

Presently, through the bushes, Farmer Upton caught sight of a distant
campfire.

"Hist!" he called to Towser. "Go slow, now! Down!"

And the dog obeyed and howled no longer.

A hundred yards more were passed, when a loud cry rent the air.

"Help! help!"

It was Jerry's voice. Si Peters was in the act of applying the first
brushful of tar to his back. Utterly helpless, there was nothing left for
Jerry to do but to use his lungs.

"Shut up!" cried Si Peters. "Yell again and I'll hit you in the mouth with
the tar."

"You are an overgrown coward!" retorted Jerry. "Give me a fair show, and
I'll knock you out in short order."

And again he called for help.

In a rage, Si Peters started to plaster Jerry's mouth with the hot tar.
But ere the brush could descend, Mr. Upton and Towser burst upon the
scene.

"Stop, you young scamps!" roared the old farmer. "At 'em, Towser! Chew 'em
up!"

Startled at the unexpected interruption, the rowdies fell back. Then
Towser leaped forward and caught Si Peters by his trowsers.

"Save me!" yelled Si, in terror. "The dog is going to chew me up!"

"Good, Towser!" returned Jerry. "Hold him fast!"

And Towser did as bidden.

In the meantime Mr. Upton ran after the boys who had been holding Jerry.
He caught two of them, and before they knew it, knocked their heads
together so forcibly that they saw stars.

Jerry, delighted at the unexpected turn of affairs, turned upon Wash
Crosby. Si Peters had dropped the tar brush, and this Jerry secured.

Bang!