alf an acre
of land among them. We don't want to have a fight with them, and I
believe the doctor will settle the whole affair without any trouble
as soon as he comes back with Blaisdell."

Meantime Harry and Arthur had hurried on along the path through the
woods and it was not long before they heard the sound of voices
ahead of them, and hastened on, expecting that Blaisdell was in
trouble.

In a short time they came upon the boy, with his back against a tree
and a defiant look in his face, saying at that moment:

"If you fellows attempt to touch me you will get hurt. You have
no business to detain me and you will get the worst of it."

"What are you doing to that boy?" cried Arthur, hurrying forward.
"If you want this matter settled, why don't you let him alone and
allow him to go and get the doctor and have this matter arranged
satisfactorily?"

The arrival of two extra boys where they had expected to deal with
only one rather surprised the men, and one of them said with a growl:

"How do you know we was goin' to do anything to him? We've got
traps an' snares here, an' we thought he was goin' to meddle with
'em. We gotter look arter our property."

"It is not the time for setting snares," said Arthur. "We know what
you are up to. Get ahead, Ken. We'll keep these fellows from
following you. They are a bad lot, but we will take care of them."

The two boys had picked up stout sticks, and they now advanced upon
the men so as to give Blaisdell a chance to get away.

The men fell back, being natural cowards, and one of them now said
to the boys in sullen tones:

"What you makin' such a fuss about, anyhow? We was only foolin' with
the boy. We wasn't goin' to hurt him none."

"Well, I don't think you will," replied Harry as Blaisdell set off
toward the camp of the Hilltop boys, knowing that the two would be
able to take care of the men.

"How did you men get the idea that your farms were going to be
injured?" asked Arthur. "Who gave you that notion?"

"Bill said so," replied one.

"Who is Bill? Is he the big man that did the most of the talking
just now? He does not look as if he knew very much."

"Yes, Bill's a big feller."

"Well, Bill had better study up a bit before he goes to making
trouble for people. Where is his farm, anyhow? Has he got one?"

"Ah, you talk too much!" growled the man as he walked toward the
station,

Shortly after the return of Harry and Arthur Blaisdell, a doz