bolted into the tent after Nugget.

For a second or two there was a terrible outcry. Nugget's appeals for
help mingled with the dog's angry barking. Then the tent shook violently
and toppled to the ground.

At this interesting juncture the owner of the dog emerged from the
bushes--a burly farmer with a very stern cast of features. He carried a
lantern in one hand, and a short, thick club in the other.

The fallen tent first attracted his attention. It was wriggling about as
though endowed with life, and from underneath came strange, muffled
sounds.

The farmer lifted one end of the canvas, and gave it a vigorous jerk,
thus liberating the dog, who began to prance about his master. A second
pull revealed Nugget's legs thrashing wildly about on the grass. The dog
immediately made a dart at them, but the farmer caught him by the scruff
of the neck and dragged him back.

The boys had witnessed the whole affair from their hiding places, and
now they dropped from the tree, and came timidly forward. At the same
moment Randy crept out of the shadows and joined them.

The farmer caught sight of the boys and took a step toward them, still
keeping a tight hold on his dog. "What do you mean by trespassin' here,
you impudent young rascals?" he demanded savagely. "Get out of this as
quick as you can, or I'll give you a taste of this."

He shook his club menacingly.

"I'm very sorry if we have offended you," said Ned quietly. "We did not
suppose there would be any objection to our camping here. I don't think
we have done any damage."

"Damage!" growled the farmer. "No, I reckon not. You hain't had time
for that yet. It was only last night I run two thieving rascals off my
land. They hed a camp a little ways down the creek, an' fur two whole
days they were livin' at my expense, stealing applies, an' eggs, an'
chickens, an' whatever else they could lay their hands on. You people
are all alike. You don't have no regards fur a farmer's rights."

"I'm very sorry you have such a bad opinion of us," said Ned. "I assure
you we don't deserve it. If you will let us stay here to-night we will
go quietly away in the morning."

"No," snarled the farmer. "You can't stay. I won't have it. Pack up at
once and git out. And mind you don't stop anywhere within half a mile. I
own the land that fur on both sides of the creek."

Just then a diversion was created by the dog. He tore loose from his
master and rushed at Nugget, who had meanwhile