“Oh!  I guess they’ll be able to stand it, if I can,” ventured Roland, “Please don’t bear me any malice, fellows, for having my little joke.  You see I used to be quite a hand for such things; but living all alone up here didn’t give me much of an opportunity to try any pranks; and so I was just aching for a turn.  It didn’t do any harm, and afforded me some fun, so please forget it.”

“But, Roland, none of that story you told us about your good friend, Mr. Coombs, was made up, of course?” asked Steve.

“That was every word of it true,” came the quick answer.  “Oh! he was the finest old gentleman you ever heard about.  I grew very fond of him; and when I received word in a letter from his housekeeper that he had died, shortly after his wife went, it broke me all up.  I moped around here for a whole week, and came near throwing the entire job up.  Then I remembered how he had always put such confidence in everything I attempted; and so I just shut my teeth tighter together, and said I’d go through with it or know the reason why.  And I have, for I’m on the point of success; if only that Robert doesn’t upset the fat in the fire at the last hour.”

“Well, he won’t, you can just depend on that,” said Bandy-legs, almost fiercely.  “Here are four standbys who are booked to gather around, and see that you get the fox pups to market.  Next time Robert comes where he isn’t wanted, he may get a broken head, or something just as bad; for now we know his ugly game, we’re not apt to be over particular how hard we hit.”

All of which must have been very comforting to the boy who had taken such a big load upon his young shoulders, in the effort to show what he was made of.  After all, perhaps the eccentric uncle who left such a strange provision in his will knew human nature better than most people do; for he had picked out the very thing calculated to spur a chap like Roland to do his best.

“Well,” remarked Max, “since we’ve cast off the numerous Grimes tribe, and discovered the one we were in search of, and as the hour is getting fearfully late, suppose we postpone further talk until morning.  There remain a few hours to be utilized in sleep.  Steve, you and Bandy-legs haven’t filled out your time as sentries yet; suppose you hold for another hour, and then turn it over to me.”

“Just as you say, Max,” replied the other.  “I meant to propose that anyway, for the alarm broke out in the middle of our watch.  Secretly, I’d like Mr. Robert to take his courage in both fists and sneak back this way, bent on further mischief.  Do you ask me why!  Well, I’d delight to make use of my scatter-gun, and let him have a mess of number ten shot at, say sixty yards.  They’d pepper him good and plenty at that distance, without actually endangering his miserable life.”

Max, knowing the energetic nature of the speaker, warned him against being too prompt at using his gun.

“Better go slow about that, Steve,” he remarked.  “Many a fellow has been shot by mistake.  Every season dozens fall victims to hunters who see something moving, and blaze away recklessly.  It might be one of us, for all you’d know.  So don’t think of firing without giving our signal.”