e when he took a notion to
go down to the lake."

"Well, here's the fence, Jerry!" observed Bluff, as they came to a
full stop.

Jerry surveyed it critically, even stepping back the better to see how
the barbed wire entanglement ran along its apex.

"A rather tough job to get over that fence," he was heard to say, as
though half to himself, "though I reckon I could manage it if pushed."

"But I hope you'll never try it," ventured Frank, severely.

"I was wondering," continued Jerry, paying no attention to the
reproof, "whether that barbed wire was put there to prevent outsiders
from getting in, or to keep some one who was in from breaking out!"

Frank started, and looked serious. He even exchanged glances with
Will, as though they might have a little secret between them; but at
any rate he did not see fit to encourage Jerry to pursue the subject
any further.

"Suppose we let the matter drop now," he said, in that way of his
which all of them considered final.

They once more moved along, and, in following the plan Frank had of
reaching the old trail that led through the woods and tangle to the
lake, they kept close to the high fence.

Jerry looked around him from time to time, and whenever he chanced to
discover a knot-hole in one of the boards he immediately glued his eye
to the aperture as if in hopes of glimpsing the hermit's house, or
something else equally interesting.

As they did not hear him utter any expression of satisfaction after
several of these attempts, the others set his labor down as futile.

A short time later they neared the lower end of the fenced-in estate.
Frank knew he would run upon the trail near this point, and
accordingly he had his eyes fixed on the ground looking for the first
signs.

On this account he was not the first to discover something that came
to pass. It was when he heard an exclamation from Jerry that Frank
looked hastily up, and saw to his dismay that they were once more
face to face with the same old gentleman whom he and Will had
encountered.

Aaron Dennison had evidently stepped through a narrow gateway, for the
opening appeared just behind him. He must have been quite as
astonished as the boys at the unexpected meeting. Frank could see that
he was very angry, for his face turned red, his eyes gleamed, and the
muscles of his cheeks worked under the strain.

Knowing the impetuous nature of one or more of his chums, Frank
hurriedly blocked the path so that non