"How am I goin' to
feed so many strangers? You know, Pat, we're pretty near out of flour."

"Shucks, mother! We got plenty of meal and hog meat, and there's
vegetables. We'll not starve. Besides," here he whispered in Mrs.
Feeney's ear, "you'll get some money from 'em, eh? I knows you--"

"Pat, you know you're not going to charge them four boys, if they stay a
week. I've heard ye say so."

"Now, Mrs. Feeney," put in Billy, "don't you worry! We boys are not
going to cost you a dollar more than we'll pay back. We like you folks."
Here Billy winked boldly at Nan who laughed as she slightly blushed.
"Anything will do us."

"You sure are good boys," nodded Mrs. Feeney. "You were nice to my folks
on the way from the hay market. Pat and me are glad to have ye. But
these others--real strangers, that might be different."

"Oh, Billy," called Paul from the shed doorway, "please come here!"

Thus summoned, the two at once followed Paul into where the sick man was
picking at his wounded head and moaning:

"Dippy--done--it. What'd you do it for, Dippy?" A series of feeble
coughings ensued, and the man again seemed to swoon away.

"That's the way he keeps going on," remarked Worth, regarding Phil
attentively. "Reckon he ought to have a--a doctor?"

After another short consultation Dan, who meanwhile had eaten and felt
refreshed and rested, set out on another horse for the nearest
physician.

"Tell Doc the whole story, Dan," urged the father. "If we get any sense
outen him, mebbe it will help undo this mystery that surrounds the whole
business. Tell him I won't pay his bill, but the county probably will.
Thurfore he can stick it up to a pretty stiff figure."

Meanwhile Phil had been conferring with his three chums apart.

"I've made up my mind that some of us ought to visit that old tavern
again. There's something up down there or I'm a fool in judging by
appearances. How do we know that this Dippy, as that chap calls his
mate, may not slip in, having, as he may think, killed his partner, and
destroy what I saw when we went in after Billy? We've got time now. We
can take the car--Worth and me."

"That sounds bully," exclaimed Worth. "I'm with you. They kidnaped me; I
want to get even."

The only trouble now was that both Dave and Paul wanted to be "on," in
this adventure; but they yielded when Phil made it plain that part of
them must remain at Feeney's to make sure that the one they had captured
was in safe keeping.