“Walked and skated,” returned Tom, as coolly as he could.

“You’ve got a nerve to follow me and my party,” went on Baxter, with an ugly scowl.

“As I just said to this man, Baxter, we haven’t been following you,” put in Sam.  “We struck your trail by accident.  We thought we were following——­”

“Never mind about that, Sam,” interrupted Tom quickly.

“Who did you think you were following?” demanded Dan Baxter.

“It’s none of your business, Baxter.  We have as much right to be here as you have.”

“Humph!  Don’t you suppose I know why you came?”

“More than likely you do, and we know why you came.”

“Have you got another map?” demanded Baxter, in curiosity.

“It’s none of your affair what we have.  We stumbled upon you by accident, and if you haven’t anything in particular to say to us we’ll be going.”

“You needn’t leave so quickly.  Where is Dick?”

“He isn’t so very far off.”

“You hired John Barrow for a guide, I heard,” put in Bill Harney.

“If we did, we had a right to do it,” said Sam.

“He don’t know these parts as well as he might.  If you don’t look out he’ll lose you in the mountains, and you’ll never get home alive.”

“Let him lose them,” put in Baxter quickly.  “It’s what they deserve.  But, come, it’s cold over here.  Let’s move back to the fire.  And I want you two to come along,” he added, to the Rovers.

“We don’t propose to come along,” replied Tom.

“And I say you shall come, Tom Rover.  We are four to two, and you had better submit.”

“Yes, make them come,” put in Jasper Grinder.  “I want to have a talk with them.”  And he glared wickedly, first at Tom and then at Sam.

It must be confessed that Tom and Sam felt in anything but an enviable position.  They knew Dan Baxter thoroughly, and knew he would stop at nothing to accomplish his purpose.

“The best thing you can do is to leave us alone,” said Tom steadily.  “You have always got the worst of the bargain, Dan Baxter, and if you try any game on now, you’ll miss it again.”

“I’ll risk it, Tom Rover.  Come now, and no more fooling.  If you behave yourself, there won’t be any trouble.”

There was, then, nothing to do but to follow, for neither of the Rovers wished to lose this portion of the outfit.  Soon the whole party were gathered around the fire, which Husty heaped high with brushwood.  Back of the fire was a high cliff, topped with cedars, which kept off the wind and made the situation a fairly comfortable one.

“Now we had better come to an understanding,” said Dan Baxter, as he warmed his hands.  “We all know what we are out here for, so there is no use in mincing matters.”

“I understand all I want to know,” answered Tom briefly.

“So do I,” put in Sam.

“Baxter shall settle with you, and then I’ll settle,” growled Jasper Grinder.  “I have not forgotten how I was treated at Putnam Hall because of you.”