“So would I,” answered William Gage, whom Charles looked upon as his ‘right-hand man;’ “but it wouldn’t do to attempt it, for he has got too many friends.  We must shoot his dog, or steal his boat, or do something of that kind.  It would plague him more than a dozen whippings.”

“That’s so!” exclaimed another of the Rangers.  “If we could only go up there, some dark night, and steal his scow, and run her out into the river, and burn her, wouldn’t he be mad?”

“Yes,” chimed in another, “but it wouldn’t pay even to attempt that.  He always keeps his boats chained up, and the noise we would make in getting them loose would be sure to start that dog of his, and then we should have a dusty time, I reckon.”

“I guess so, too,” said William Gage.  “Whatever we do, we must be careful not to start that dog, for he would go through fire and water to catch us; and, if he ever got hold of one of us—­”

And William shrugged his shoulders, significantly.

“Hasn’t he got an orchard or melon-patch that we could visit?” inquired Charles.

“No,” answered one of the Rangers; “but he’s got as nice a strawberry-patch as ever laid out-doors.  But it’s a little too early for strawberries.”

“Who cares for that?” said Charles.  “We don’t go to get the fruit; we only want to pay him for defending the Hiller—­meddling with other people’s business.  It’s too late to do any thing to-night,” he added, glancing at his watch, “but let us go there to-morrow night, and pull up every strawberry-plant we can lay our hands on.  You know, we can do as much mischief of that kind as we please, and it will all be laid to the Hillers.”

“Where shall we meet?” inquired one of the Rangers.

“Come here at precisely seven o’clock; and, remember, don’t lisp a single word to any one about it, for, if you do, we shall be found out.”

The Rangers were about to disperse, when one of them suddenly inquired,

“Will not folks mistrust that something is in the wind, if they see us all starting up the road at that time of night?”

“That’s a fact,” said William Gage.  “Wouldn’t it be a better plan for us to meet in the woods, at the back of Mrs. Nelson’s lot?  Let us all be there at eight o’clock; and, if no two of us go in company, no one will be the wiser for it.”

“That is the best plan,” said Charles.  “Now, remember, don’t say any thing about it.”

“All right!” was the answer; and, in a few moments more, the Rangers were on their way home.

The next evening, at seven o’clock, Charles left his home, and, avoiding the principal streets as much as possible, started toward the place of rendezvous, where he arrived at almost precisely the time agreed upon.  He found the Rangers all waiting for him; and, as it was already dark, it was decided to commence operations immediately.

“We want a guide,” said Charles, who, of course, was captain of the Rangers.  “Who knows exactly where that strawberry-bed lies? for, if we have to fumble about much, we shall start that dog, and then, it strikes me, from what I have seen and heard of him, we shall be in a predicament.”