“What do you mean?” demanded the angry owner of Cliff Island.

“Blent can hire those fellows from the lumber camps, and some of the guides, to do his dirty work.  That’s all I’ve got to say.  Hunting camps have burned down in these woods before now,” observed the foreman, significantly.

“Why! the scoundrel sold me this island himself!”

“And he’s sold other outsiders camp sites.  But they have had to leave if they angered Blent.”

“He is a dangerous man, then?”

“Well—­things just happen,” returned Preston, shaking his head.  “I’d keep watch if I were you.”

“I will.  I’ll hire guards—­and arm ’em, if need be,” declared Mr. Tingley, emphatically.  “But take it from me—­I am going to see that that boy Jerry is treated right in these backwoods courts.  That’s the way I feel about it.”

Ruth was glad to hear him say this.  As she had decided when she first saw him, Mr. Tingley could be very firm if he wished to be.  At once he went back to the house, had a team hitched to a sleigh, and drove over to the mainland so as to be sure that Blent did not get ahead of him and have court convened before the proper hour.

The day was spoiled for Ruth and for some of the other young folk who had taken such a deep interest in Jerry.  The boy had been caught because he tried to get the mattock Ruth and Tom had put out for him.  Ruth wished now that she and Tom had not gone down to the brook.

There was too much going on at Cliff Island for even Ruth to mope long.  Mr. Tingley came back at dark and said he had succeeded in getting Jerry’s case put over until a lawyer could familiarize himself with the details.  Meanwhile Keller, Blent’s man, had refused to accept bail.  Jerry would have to remain in jail for a time.

A man came across from the town that evening and brought a telegram for Mr. Tingley.  That gentleman had without doubt shown his interest in Jerry Sheming.  Fearing that the local legal lights might be somewhat backward about opposing Rufus Blent, he had telegraphed to his own firm of lawyers in New York and they were sending him a reputable attorney from an up-State city who would be at Logwood the next day.

“Let’s all go over to court to-morrow and see that lawyer get Jerry free,” suggested Belle Tingley, and the others agreed with enthusiasm.  It would be as much fun as snow-shoeing; more fun for those who had not already learned that art.

The day after Christmas, in the morning, the boys insisted that everybody but Mercy Curtis should get out and try the shoes.  Those who had been at Snow Camp the year before were able to set out quite briskly—­for it is an art that, like swimming and skating, is not easily forgotten.

There were some very funny spills and by luncheon they were all in a glow.  Later the big sledge was brought around and behind that the boys strung a couple of bobs.  The horses drew them down to the ice and there it was easy for the team to pull the whole crowd across to Logwood.