hipped out a knife from his pocket and quickly cut the cord.
Harry sprang up and stretched his arms and legs.

"It seems good to be free once more," he said. "But who tied you?"

"Two boys that had a spite against me. At least, one had, and the other
was his friend."

"How long have you been lying there?"

"Several hours--I can't tell how long."

"It's a mean trick, anyway."

"So it is; I should have had to stay here all night if you hadn't come
along."

"Or if the snake hadn't swallowed you!" Harry shuddered at the mention
of the snake.

"That was the worst of it," he said.

CHAPTER XVII.

WHAT HARRY SAW IN THE WOOD

"What is your name?" asked Harry. "I don't remember seeing you before."

"I live on the other side of the wood. My name is Reuben Richardson."

"Richardson?"

"Yes; we only moved here two months since, and I haven't had a chance to
get acquainted much. What is your name?"

"Harry Gilbert."

"I suppose you live in the village?"

"Yes. It's lucky for me you came along. There isn't much traveling
through the wood. How did you happen to be here?"

"I was exploring a little. I was on my way home when I heard you shout.
I guess I must be going now. I have to get up early in the morning, and
so I go to bed early."

"Well, good-night, Reuben. Come and see me some day. Anybody will tell
you where I live."

"Thank you. If you ever come our way, stop at the farm and see me."

"So I will."

The two boys parted, with friendly good-nights.

"Reuben seems a nice sort of boy," said Harry to himself, as he threaded
his way through the woods in a homeward direction. "I don't know what
would have happened to me if he hadn't come along."

The moon was already up, though it was still early, and cast a mild
radiance through the branches of the trees. The effect was fine, but
Harry had no time for enjoying it, as he was in a hurry to get home and
relieve his mother's anxiety.

He had gone perhaps a quarter of a mile, when he heard voices,
indistinct as yet, of men, who seemed to be approaching.

Ordinarily he would have kept right on, without fear or suspicion, but
it might have been the experience through which he had just passed that
made him more cautious.

At any rate, he began to look around to see where he could best conceal
himself till the newcomers passed.

He caught sight of a tree that seemed easy to climb, and he swung
himself up at once,