the chance of our lives to do it."

"We can give him the tar and feathers and then leave him tied up in such a
fashion that he can get free, but not before we have had a chance to make
good our escape and get home and to bed."

"That's the way to fix it."

"It will teach Lakeporters a good lesson," put in one of the unknowns.
"My! but ain't I down on every one of 'em."

"And so am I!"

"And I!"

"And I!"

In the meanwhile the young oarsman was trying his best to work himself
free of his bonds. He felt that unless he escaped he would surely be
tarred and feathered.

He tugged at the ropes around his body, and after a hard struggle he
managed to free his left arm.

His right arm followed, although this cost him a bad cut on the wrist,
from which the blood flowed freely.

But he gave the wound no thought, and in haste began to work at the rope
at his waist.

Now that was loosened, only the one around his knees remained.

He looked anxiously toward the fire. The masked boys were still in deep
discussion, and not a single eye was directed toward the prisoner.

Oh, for three minutes more time!

He worked with feverish haste.

And now he was practically free!

Si Peters turned and beheld him as he took a step behind the tree, out of
the glare of the fire.

"He has got away, fellows!" he shouted. "After him, quick!"

A yell went up, and the crowd rushed forward.

"He mustn't escape us!"

"We worked too hard to capture him!"

"See, he is limping! The rope is still fastened to one of his legs!"

Like a pack of wolves after a rabbit they came after Jerry.

Our hero did his best to outdistance them, and he would have succeeded had
it not been for the rope around one knee, which caught in a tree root and
threw him down flat on his face. In another moment the crowd was on top of
him.

They showed him no mercy. Si Peters was particularly brutal and kicked
Jerry heavily in the side half a dozen times.

"I'll teach you to crawl away, you sneak!" he cried. "You can't fool us in
this fashion."

The kicks stunned Jerry and deprived him of his wind. He fought as best he
could, but he was no match for six strong boys.

Again he was overpowered. Then the gang dragged him to the side of the
roaring camp fire and threw off their masks.

"Now we'll strip him," said Wash Crosby. "The tar is all ready and so are
the feathers."

Jerry's struggles availed him nothing. His coat and vest were literally
ripped f