at all, the manner of the other changed as if by magic. His face
took on a fierce expression, and he looked along the row of boyish
faces by which he was confronted, as though one of them had done
something to arouse his hot anger.

The click of the hammer of his gun could be heard as his thumb drew it
back; and the scouts shrank away in dismay when they saw the flame in
his small eyes.

"Quick! tell me you'uns, whar be the other one? Thar was sure eight w'en
we counted yuh from the side o' the mounting. An' it mout pay yuh ter
'member thet Ole Phin, he beant the man ter fool with. Eight thar was;
whar be the other right now?"

And Thad realized that the ice was indeed getting desperately thin under
their feet at that particular moment.

CHAPTER XIII.

BAITING OLD PHIN, THE MOONSHINER.

THAD himself managed to retain his self-possession under these trying
conditions. What he believed he had to fear most of all, was that one of
his chums might give the secret away by some ill-advised remark, uttered
under the spur of the moment. He knew that they must have shrunk back,
appalled, when the moonshiner made such a threatening move, accompanying
his fierce words. But for the life of him Thad could not tear his eyes
away from the face of the man himself.

It was just as well. Phin Dady looked to Thad, as the leader of the
scouts, for an answer to his demand. Had the boy shown any evidences of
confusion or weakening just then, it might have confirmed the sudden
ugly suspicions that had flashed into the other's mind, and just when he
was growing more or less interested in the wonderful stories he had been
listening to concerning the aims and ambitions of these uniformed lads.

"There are eight of us, just as you say," Thad remarked, trying to look
surprised at the change of front on the part of his caller; "but the
other one, White his name is, has gone to see Reuben Sparks on business.
We expect him back inside of an hour or so. If you'd care to wait you
can meet him."

His air was so candid, and his face so free from guile that the
moonshiner could find no further cause for suspicion. Besides, had he
not heard in the beginning that the scouts had already made the
acquaintance of Reuben Sparks; who, like himself had displayed more or
less interest in their aims and ambitions.

Phin Dady even began to feel a little ashamed of his sudden threatening
attitude. The fierce look on his thin face, that with his gle