ded me of black bass or pickerel, I
wasn't sure which," Lil Artha stated, with a chuckle.

"But we've been around more or less, Elmer," Mark put in, "and I don't
remember seeing any signs of fish cleaning, scales or anything."

"Of course not," came the quick reply. "If these people knew they were
breaking the law, and expected the game warden to pop in on them any
day, you can just believe they'd be mighty careful to hide all traces of
this thing."

"Perhaps they throw it all back in the pond for fish bait," suggested
the tall scout.

"Not a bad idea," commented Elmer.

"And the cellar under the mill cottage?" asked Mark.

"They might use that as a cool place to keep the fish until they can get
them to market," Elmer replied.

"That's a fact, seeing they have no ice to pack them in," Lil Artha
observed. "And the more I think of it all, the better it looks to me,
fellows."

"Then you believe my explanation may be the true answer to our chum's
vanishing?"

"I sure do."

"That they came upon him by accident," Elmer went on, "and filled with a
sudden panic, just captured him to keep Nat from calling out, and
bringing the rest of us around?"

"That's what they did," Lil Artha affirmed. "And no matter how sorry
they might be afterward because they did it, they just can't drop him
now."

"Then, since we've agreed on that point I don't see the need of my
hanging around here any longer," Elmer observed, drawing his belt one
notch tighter, as though preparing for new labors.

"And your orders are just the same?" Mark asked.

"Yes, you two keep guard over the shack, and don't let the prisoner get
away, if you can prevent it."

"Depend on us, Elmer. And say," Lil Artha remarked, "don't you think now
it would be a good thing to send George down here?"

"That's an idea worth while," Elmer quickly replied.

"Oh, I get 'em once in a long time," grinned the other.

"A good scheme, and I'll send George back as soon as I can. When he
comes, take him in to see the woman. Have him try and get her to
understand that we mean her men no harm, and only want them to set our
chum free."

"And then what? Supposing George is able to get that pounded into her
head?" asked Lil Artha.

"Why, he must make her understand that we want to conduct an exchange of
prisoners."

"By that, Elmer," Mark broke in, "I suppose you mean well give the woman
up if they let Nat go free?"

"That's it," returned the leader. "And as she is