nodded. "It's this way, Felps," he said. "If you
get this contract out of the way I am sure you can make another
contract---for your own company. The Spur Road folks feel sore,
and I know you can fix matters up with old Haley, who is a miser,
and willing to do almost anything for money."

"Have you the papers with you?"

"Do you want to buy them?"

"I want to see what I am getting, first."

Lusher Barrock made a movement as if to take something from his
breast-pocket.

Just at that moment heavy footsteps sounded out directly behind the
four boy hunters, and two men belonging to the Felps crowd appeared
upon the scene.

"Hullo! What are you youngsters doing here?" demanded one of
the men.

"We---we came over on business," stammered Snap. He hardly knew
what to say, the meeting was such an unexpected one.

"Who is there?" cried out Andrew Felps, and ran around the edge
of the rocks. "What, you! Where did you come from?"

Andrew Felps was followed by Lush Barrock. When the fellow who had
robbed the sawmill saw Snap and his chums he was almost struck dumb.

"See here," began Andrew Felps, his face growing dark, "what do
you-----"

"Stop him!" yelled Snap, and pointed to Lush Barrock, who had
suddenly taken to his heels. "Stop him, somebody!"

Snap made a dash after the robber, and was followed by his three
chums. Barrock was a good runner, and soon disappeared into the
bushes.

"We must catch him!" panted Snap. "We must not let him get away!"

He went on after Lush Barrock with all speed. The course was
through the bushes and over some rocks. Then, of a sudden, a
voice sounded out ahead:

"Stop, all of you! If you don't, I'll fire!"

"Oh, Snap, do you think he will fire at us?" gasped Giant, and
came to a halt, followed by the rest.

"If you fire, so will we!" sang out Snap, and brought around his
shotgun. But no answer came back, and now Lush Barrock was both
out of sight and hearing.

Yet the boy hunters did not give up the chase. They followed
the trail as best they could to a brook, but there lost it in
the water. Then they hunted around for a good quarter of an hour,
but without avail.

"Too bad!" groaned Snap. "Oh, how I wish I had put my hands on
that rascal!"

"He is certainly a bad one," was Whopper's comment.

"Yes, and Andrew Felps is almost as bad," said Shep. "He would
have bought those papers."

They retraced their steps toward the lake, and soon met Andrew
F