oo strong. I have plenty of it!"

The boys used the sugar and milk liberally, and Will was about to
lift his cup to his lips when the Beaver call came again:

"Slap, slap, slap!"

Although the sounds were faint ones, they caught the attention of
Antoine, who, scowling, turned his face in the direction from which
they had proceeded. In a minute, he arose.

"What was that noise?" he asked.

"Did you hear a noise?" questioned Will.

"I thought I did!" replied the man. "Perhaps I'd better take a
look about the place. There may be intruders here!"

As Antoine moved about, his footsteps in a measure muffling the
sounds which followed, the boys heard a low whisper.

"Don't drink! It's drugged!"

Wondering why the boy did not show himself, and able to understand
his strange conduct only on the theory that he had been gagged and
bound, Will overturned his cup of tea by an awkward movement and
sprang to his feet as the burning fluid came in contact with his
clothing.

Simultaneously the boys all sprang from the table, taking care to
upset the board upon which they had been eating. An angry
exclamation came from Antoine's lips as the carefully prepared tea
was spilled to the floor. In a moment, however, his face broke
into a smile.

"Too bad!" he said, "but accidents will happen. I'll make you some
more! I'll have it ready in a moment."

"We really would like some tea, notwithstanding our awkwardness,"
laughed Will, listening as he spoke for some further sound from his
chum.

"Drugged, drugged, drugged."

The boys heard the whisper floating through the room. Then they
heard a gasp as of some one coming out of a sound sleep, and saw
Antoine springing toward a weapon lying on the floor.

CHAPTER XII

A SURPRISE AT THE CABIN

Will got to the weapon first.

With an exclamation of rage and anger, Antoine drew his hunting
knife from its sheath and lifted it threateningly.

"Keep back!" he said. "Keep back, every one of you!"

"Throw down the knife, then!" Tommy demanded.

Instead of throwing down the knife, Antoine seemed preparing for a
spring. It was evident that he had not yet abandoned the hope of
gaining his revolver. The weapon which Will had seized left his
hand with a swift whirl, and the next moment the knife crashed from
Antoine's hand to the floor. The fellow's wrist had been broken.

He fell back with a groan, but remained inactive only a second.

"I'll come back!" he shoute