"That's what you may expect."

"You would murder me?" cried Brick.

"Yes; if our plans failed," was Raikes' calm reply. "It would be
necessary for our own safety. But you don't intend to drive us to that,
I know. Come; be sensible. There are the writing materials on the table.
Put the matter through without delay, and you will get your freedom in
two or three weeks."

Brick's face was deathly pale, but there was a resolute gleam in his
eyes.

"You won't dare to kill me," he replied. "You would surely hang for it.
My friends will hunt every place for me, and they will get the loggers
to help them. If you let me go, I'll promise not to say anything about
the affair. And you may keep all that money."

Raikes laughed contemptuously.

"You are a bigger fool than I took you for," he said. "This cabin is as
safe from detection as though it was in the center of Africa. We're not
worried about your friends. Once more, are you going to write those
letters?"

Brick was deceived by the pacific tone and words. He concluded that his
threat had made a wholesome impression.

"No, I'm not," he replied, with an obstinate shake of the head.

"But you will," thundered Bogle. "I'll show you who is master."

He pushed Raikes aside and knocked Brick to the floor by a heavy blow.
Swearing violently, he lifted him by the hair, and dragged him over to
the table. He forced him down on the bench, and pointed to the pen and
ink.

"Now will you write?" he cried. "I'll give you one minute to obey."

Brick yelled loudly for help. He kicked and fought with all his might.
In the scuffle the bench was overturned, and both landed on the floor.
Brick jerked loose from his enemy, and rolled a few feet to one side. He
sprang up, enraged and desperate. Bogle, too, was on his feet. Murder
flashed from his eyes as he rushed at the lad.

Brick met the attack by a heavy blow of his fist. The ruffian staggered.
He uttered a snarling cry. He lifted one hand to stanch the blood that
flowed from his nose. Brick took advantage of this brief respite. He
dodged cleverly by Raikes, who tried to stop him, and gained the
farthest corner of the room. A rifle rested on two hooks above his head.

Just as he got possession of the weapon, Bogle dashed at him with a cry
of fury. The ruffian was half insane. He snatched the weapon, and lifted
it with both hands for a blow that would surely have split Brick's skull
open.

But just in the nick of time Raikes gai