nin' of all this?"

"None of your business," was the gruff and somewhat startled reply.
"Get out of the way or we'll run ye down!"

"Is that so?" and the captain drew back the hammer of his rifle.
"Bluff all ye like, but I've something here which does more'n bluff.
Stop rowin', I tell ye, or I'll blow yer heads off!"

It was remarkable what an effect these words had upon the
night-prowlers. They could see, as well, the levelled rifle, and they
believed that the man holding it meant business. They stopped rowing,
but the boat still glided onward.

"Back water, and keep away from the tug!" the captain commanded.

The men obeyed, and soon the boat was lying but a few yards off.

"There, that's better," the captain commented. "Now, what have yez to
say about yer actions here?"

"We're only obeyin' orders," was the surly reply. "We were told to
come fer these logs."

"Who told ye?"

"Nick Taftie. We're workin' fer him."

"H'm, I thought so. Worked fer him last year at the same job, eh?"

"Yes."

"How many of yez are there?" the captain enquired.

"Three. Pete Simons, the engineer, is on board."

"Well, then, ye jist tell Pete to drop anchor, and tumble in there with
yez. If yez try any foolin', I'll shoot."

"But what are ye going to do?" one of the men demanded. "We can't stay
here."

"Never mind what I'm goin' to do; ye'll find that out in plenty of
time. It's not a bad place to stay, after all. Yez won't starve, and
I shan't shoot so long as yez behave yerselves. Hurry up, and give
Pete his orders!"

The engineer had heard every word which had been spoken. At first he
was tempted to steam away, and leave his companions to their fate. But
he knew that he could not very well steer the tug and handle the engine
at the same time. He, therefore, decided to remain. It took him only
a few minutes to run out the anchor, and join his companions, as they
backed their boat to the stern of the tug.

"Now pull fer the shore," the captain ordered. "Don't try to git away
from me. At the first sign I'll shoot."

Rod rowed the tender, while the captain with his rifle across his knees
kept his eyes fixed upon the three men in the other boat. When a short
distance from the shore, the captain commanded them to stop, and hand
over their oars. This they reluctantly did, and waited to see what
would happen next.

"Got an anchor on board?" the captain asked.

"Yes, a small one," was the reply.

"