elps and his companions.

"Did you catch him?" asked the lumber dealer, nervously.

"No," was Snap's short answer.

"Do you know him?" went on Andrew Felps, curiously.

"I know him to be the man who robbed the sawmill and set the place
on fire."

"Is that so?"

Andrew Felps put on an appearance of great surprise.

"Don't you know it, too?" said Snap, bluntly.

"Me? Of course not. Why---er---if I knew he was that kind of
a man-----" Andrew Felps broke off short. "Were you listening
to our talk?"

"We were," put in Whopper. "We heard every word, too."

"Ahem! Well, I---er---that is, I was only sounding the fellow,"
said the lumber dealer, lamely.

To this Snap did not say anything, although Andrew Felps looked
at him inquiringly.

"You don't suppose I was going to have anything to do with him?"
demanded Andrew Felps, after a pause.

"Yes, I do," said Snap, bluntly.

"Bah! Nonsense! If he had shown those papers I should have taken
them away from him."

"To keep?"

"No; to return to their rightful owners."

To this Snap made no reply. Andrew Felps was clearly disconcerted.

"Evidently you don't believe me, boy."

Still Snap was silent.

"See here, do you expect to make trouble for me on this account?"
pursued the lumber dealer, growing angry.

"I shall tell the truth, that's all," said Snap.

"I see! You'll try to make it appear that I am in with this---this
fellow!" snorted the lumber dealer. "Well, just you take care,
or you may get into trouble!"

"If I get into trouble I guess I'll know how to take care of myself,"
returned Snap, stoutly.

He had scarcely uttered the words when Andrew Felps caught him
roughly by the shoulder.

"Boy, take care how you talk to me!"

"Let go of me!" exclaimed Snap, with flashing eyes. "Let go,
I say!" And he jerked himself away. "Don't you dare lay your
hands upon me again, Andrew Felps!"

"Ha! you imp!" snarled the lumber dealer, and caught hold of
Snap once more. This time the boy tried to free himself, but
in vain.

"If you don't let go, I'll strike you!" he panted, and the next
moment he struck out, landing a hard blow on the lumber dealer's
nose. The latter was so amazed he fell back and released his hold.

"Oh, my nose!" groaned the man. "You young scoundrel! I'll-----"

At that moment came a cry of alarm from a distance.

"Hullo! hullo! Come this way! The woods are on fire! We'll
be burnt out before we know it!"