," said
Phil soberly; "but you take it from me, Larry, unless McGee himself is
convinced, there's nothing doing. He's the Great Mogul of this place,
the PooBah of the swamp settlement. When he takes snuff they all
sneeze. He holds all the offices; and not a man-jack of them dares to
say a word, when McGee holds up his finger. He rules with a rod of
iron. So it is McGee alone I'm hoping to convince. That done, the
others will fall in line, just like knocking down a row of bricks."

"There he is now, with a lot of the men around him. They keep looking
over this way, Phil, like they were talking about us."

"And I guess that's what they're doing," remarked the other, as he
watched the gesticulating group a minute. "I wonder, now, has Tony's
mother spread the news far and wide among the other women of the
village? What if they've already scented the glorious chance to get
the things they've just wanted all their lives? And each woman may
have been laying down the law to her man! Yes, they seem to be arguing
about something or other, for most of 'em look sour or disgruntled."

"But just notice McGee, would you?" sighed Larry. "He looks as black
as thunder when he speaks first to one and then to another. They're
dead afraid of him, that's what! They've had their say, and he's put a
damper on it all. See him shake his fist at that fellow; and how he
cringes like a whipped cur! Oh! Phil, whatever did you come down here
to try and do anything for that terrible tyrant?"

But Phil shook his head, as though not yet wholly convinced that he had
made a serious blunder in undertaking the trip.

"There is a heap of good in that man," he declared between his set
teeth; "if only one could get under his tough hide. I'm still hoping
the letter will strike home with him, Larry. Don't lose all hope yet!"

"But if it doesn't, we're in a bad box, Phil," said Larry, despairingly.

"Looks like it," Phil admitted, grimly. "But anyhow, we're not going
to be kept in suspense long, for he's sending a couple of fellows this
way; and it must be they mean to take us out."

Larry drew a long breath, and slipped down from his perch, looking very
pale.

CHAPTER XXII

PHIL SHOOTS HIS BOLT--AND LOSES!

The door of the shanty opened presently, and the two squatters stood
there.

"Yer tuh kim out, kids; McGee wants yuh!" said one of the pair of
brawny shingle-makers beckoning with his finger.

Phil was eagerly scanning