e heavy door.

"That's nonsense," said Paul, as he pointed to the fact that the door
could not be locked, since it gave an inch or so each time the boys
pushed.

"Ginger! it's got something braced against it outside, that's what!"
announced another fellow.

"As sure as you're born it has!" echoed Bobolink.

All doubt was dissipated just then, for a series of loud and derisive
shouts in boyish treble welled up from outside.

"Shucks!" grunted Bobolink, in sheer disgust; "we've gone and let the
Slavin fellers have another crack at us. A nice lot of scouts we look
like, not to keep sentries on duty when we have a secret meeting. And now
they've got us cooped up here like a lot of old hens! Shucks! I say
again!"

"Well, that's no reason we have to stay cooped up, is it?" demanded Jack,
as he turned to hunt around for some object which could be used for a
battering ram so as to force the barricaded door of the barn.

"T-t-try the b-b-big wagon doors, fellows!" whooped Bluff.

They did, but with no more success than had attended their puny efforts
against the smaller exit. Those who had been at work while they talked
must have done a good job, for the big doors were utterly immovable.

"Do we have to stay in here until morning?" wailed Andy Flinn, in mock
despair.

"Not much, if I have to climb up to the roof, and knock a plank off. Say,
those fellows must have been spying out here when I met them this
morning," said Bobolink.

"Listen now, what d'ye suppose they're doing?" demanded Nuthin'.

All remained in an attitude of expectancy, and could hear strange sounds
that seemed to come from under the boards forming the floor of the barn;
which building had not always been used for drying tobacco alone.

"Now what d'ye suppose the sillies are poking poles under there, for?"
ejaculated William; "and just when I was going to propose that we pull up
a board, and crawl through the hole."

"Whew! what's this mean? Say, fellows, if that don't make me think of a
blessed old skunk I don't know the odor when I meet it!" and Wallace drew
back as he was about to get down on his hands and knees to investigate
the meaning of the odd sounds under the barn flooring.

Others got it quickly, and various cries arose, as the boys began to hold
their noses, and look around at each other.

"It'll smother us, fellows, that's what!" gasped William, quite pale by
now; for the odor which a skunk leaves in its wake affects some persons