had gone up to the other end of the
island to spy upon Uncle Barney.

"What is the meaning of this?" demanded Mr. Brown, when he found himself
confronted by the Rovers.

"It means that we have made your son and Nappy Martell prisoners,"
explained Jack calmly.

"Prisoners!"

"Yes. And I think more than likely we'll have to hand them over to the
authorities."

"I don't understand this at all," put in Asa Lemm, and his voice
trembled a little.

Mr. Powell had now come up, and the Rovers told him who the men were. He
at once took charge of matters.

"This is a serious business, Mr. Brown," he said sternly. "Your son and
this other young man attacked old Barney Stevenson in a most outrageous
manner and robbed him of a box of valuables. What Mr. Stevenson will do
in the matter I don't know. I expect him here very shortly."

At once there was a wordy quarrel, Mr. Brown showing his temper in
anything but a dignified manner. He wanted his son and Nappy released,
and threatened all sorts of things, but all to no purpose. Mr. Powell
was obdurate, and the Rovers kept themselves in readiness to use their
firearms should the occasion require. Asa Lemm had little to say.

The discussion was growing exceedingly warm when there came another
interruption, and Uncle Barney, followed by Frederic Stevenson, burst
into the cabin. The old lumberman gazed at the assembled crowd, and then
at the Rovers.

"My box? Did you find my box?" he questioned quickly.

"Yes, Uncle Barney, we've got the box safe and sound," answered Jack,
and handed it over.

"Did those young rascals have it?" and Uncle Barney pointed to Slugger
and Nappy.

"Yes. And that fellow was trying to file away the padlock when we got
here."

"You whelps, you!" cried the old lumberman, his eyes blazing. And as he
strode toward Slugger and Nappy they shrank back as far as the corner of
the cabin permitted.

"Don't you hit me--don't you dare!" howled the bully.

"I--I didn't mean anything by it!" whined Nappy. He was now thoroughly
cowed.

Another war of words followed, and the discussion grew even hotter than
before. Again Mr. Brown threatened all sorts of things, but Uncle Barney
simply laughed at him. Then Frederic Stevenson took a hand.

"Uncle Barney," he said, catching the old man by the shoulder, "you let
me manage this for you, will you?"

"All right, Fred. You do as you please--only they can't have Snowshoe
Island," was the old man's answer. Eviden