s. "No, I
reckon if they give their oath, they'll stick to it. Where's your
camp, men?"

"Over yonder, about three mile!" answered the spokesman, nodding
toward the northeast.

"If we give you back your guns," went on the Boy gently, "will you
both give us your oath to clear right out of this country altogether,
and not trap at all this side of the line? And will you take oath,
also, that you will never, in any way, try to get even with either him
or me for having downed you this way?"

"Sartain!" responded the spokesman, with obvious sincerity. "I'll
swear to all that! An' I won't never _want_ to git even, if you use us
so gentlemanlike!"

"And will you swear, too?" inquired the Boy, turning to the silent one
who had thrown the axe at him. The fellow glared at him defiantly for
a moment, then glanced at his wounded arm, which hung limp at his
side. At last he answered with a sullen growl:

"Yes, I'll swear! Got to! Curse you!"

"Good!" said the Boy. "That's the best way for all of us. Jabe, will
you take their oaths. You know how better than I do!"

"All right!" responded the latter, shrugging his shoulders in a way
which said--"it's your idee, not mine!" Then he proceeded to bind each
man separately by an oath which left no loophole, and which was sealed
by all that their souls held sacred. This done, he handed back the
rifles,--and the two poachers, without a word, turned their backs and
made off at a swift lope straight up the open pond. The Boy and Jabe
watched them till they vanished among the trees. Then, with a shy
little laugh, the Boy picked up the axe which had been hurled at his
head.

"I'm glad he left me this," he murmured, "to kind of remember him
by!"

"The sneakin' skunk!" growled Jabe. "If I'd had my way, it'd be the
penitentiary for the both of 'em!"

That evening, when the whole story was told, the woodsmen were
indignant, for a time, because the half-breeds had been let go; but at
last they gave heed to Jabe's representations, and acknowledged that
the Boy's plan had saved a "sight of bother." To guard against future
difficulties, however, they took a big piece of smooth board, and
painted the following sign, to be nailed up on a conspicuous tree
beside the pond.

NOTICE

THIS IS BOY'S POND. NO TRAPPING HERE.
IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SAY, WHY NOT? LAWLER'S
CAMP WILL LET HIM KNOW.

THE WHITE-