“There is no grasping monopoly in it,” said Percival impatiently.  “We have a right from the railroad to make our surveys and we are going to make ’em.  I don’t believe there is a farm within ten miles and you don’t look like farmers.”

“Send some one back for the doctor, Dick,” said Jack, who saw that his friend’s words had angered the men.  “Who told you that we were going to ruin your farms?” he added, turning directly to the big man.

“I don’t have to tell ye!” blustered the other.  “I know what railroads is an’ we ain’t goin’ to have none on ’em rootin’ up our land, an’ if ye sot up any o’ them machines here we’re goin’ ter—–­Hi! don’t shoot!”

Billy Manners had suddenly turned his camera upon the follow, considering him a good subject for a picture, and was just about to squeeze the bulb when the man caught sight of him and sprang back.

“Ah! keep still,” cried Billy in disgust.  “You’ve spoiled the picture.  It would’ve been a fine one if you’d kept quiet.”

“I don’t want my picter took!” growled the big man, falling back among the others.  “Ye want ter use it ag’in me, that’s what.  I know you fellers.  An’ ye ain’t goin’ to run no railroad, nuther!”

Jack looked around and quickly discovered that young Smith was missing, and at once came to the conclusion that he had gone off to get the doctor so as to settle the dispute about the surveying.

“If you will wait till we can send for Dr. Wise,” he said to the men, “he will assure you that we have every right to make the survey, as well as to build the road.  Will you send some one, Dick?”

“I will go,” said Kenneth Blaisdell, who was one of Percival’s party.

“All right, Ken, go ahead,” and the boy set off through the woods, Jack noticing at the same time that two of the men slipped away with the evident intention of waylaying him and preventing him from delivering the message to the doctor.

“I suspected as much,” he thought.  “Well, they don’t know that young J.W. has already started.  He will get through all right, for although he’s little, he can be depended upon.”

Then Jack gave Percival a wink and stepped back a little.

CHAPTER XX

GETTING AT THE BOTTOM OF THINGS

“What is it, Jack?” asked Percival as he joined Jack a short distance from the group of men now standing idly about.

“They have sent some one to intercept Blaisdell.  I have already sent young Smith, or at least he has taken the hint and gone off himself.  He will get there, but I think we had better send some one to help Ken.”

“You are sure, Jack?”

“Yes, I saw the man slip away.  Here are Art and Harry.  They will go.”

Harry Dickson and Arthur Warren now came up, and Jack quickly told them what he expected and asked them to follow Blaisdell and assist him if necessary, both the boys slipping away without being noticed by the party of men collected at the little station house and now talking among themselves and paying no attention to the boys.