Percival got all the boys together, including those who were not of the surveying party but had merely come along to see the work started, and said to them: 

“It is my opinion that these men have been influenced by some one who has been telling them a lot of lies, and maybe for the purpose of getting money out of us.  They don’t any of them look over intelligent, and I don’t believe there is a regular farmer among them.  They are squatters, I believe, and don’t own half an acre of land among them.  We don’t want to have a fight with them, and I believe the doctor will settle the whole affair without any trouble as soon as he comes back with Blaisdell.”

Meantime Harry and Arthur had hurried on along the path through the woods and it was not long before they heard the sound of voices ahead of them, and hastened on, expecting that Blaisdell was in trouble.

In a short time they came upon the boy, with his back against a tree and a defiant look in his face, saying at that moment: 

“If you fellows attempt to touch me you will get hurt.  You have no business to detain me and you will get the worst of it.”

“What are you doing to that boy?” cried Arthur, hurrying forward.  “If you want this matter settled, why don’t you let him alone and allow him to go and get the doctor and have this matter arranged satisfactorily?”

The arrival of two extra boys where they had expected to deal with only one rather surprised the men, and one of them said with a growl: 

“How do you know we was goin’ to do anything to him?  We’ve got traps an’ snares here, an’ we thought he was goin’ to meddle with ’em.  We gotter look arter our property.”

“It is not the time for setting snares,” said Arthur.  “We know what you are up to.  Get ahead, Ken.  We’ll keep these fellows from following you.  They are a bad lot, but we will take care of them.”

The two boys had picked up stout sticks, and they now advanced upon the men so as to give Blaisdell a chance to get away.

The men fell back, being natural cowards, and one of them now said to the boys in sullen tones: 

“What you makin’ such a fuss about, anyhow?  We was only foolin’ with the boy.  We wasn’t goin’ to hurt him none.”

“Well, I don’t think you will,” replied Harry as Blaisdell set off toward the camp of the Hilltop boys, knowing that the two would be able to take care of the men.

“How did you men get the idea that your farms were going to be injured?” asked Arthur.  “Who gave you that notion?”

“Bill said so,” replied one.

“Who is Bill?  Is he the big man that did the most of the talking just now?  He does not look as if he knew very much.”

“Yes, Bill’s a big feller.”

“Well, Bill had better study up a bit before he goes to making trouble for people.  Where is his farm, anyhow?  Has he got one?”

“Ah, you talk too much!” growled the man as he walked toward the station,