ong with Jimson and another man, and Dan Baxter. The other wagon
was loaded with boxes and driven by two men. Several horses stood
by, saddled for use.

"Where are we going?" asked the youngest Rover.

"To the North Pole," chuckled Dan Baxter. "Don't you wish you knew!"

"Are all the men going to leave?"

"That's their business, not yours."

"You are very kind, Baxter. I guess you don't know yourself."

"Don't I, though? Why, I'm right hand-and-hand with this crowd,"
added the bully boastfully.

"Maybe you only think you are."

"Huh! I know what I am doing."

"You've said that before--and got tripped up, just the same."

"There won't be any trip-up about this."

"Don't be too sure."

"See here," spoke up Andy Jimson. "When we get on the road, all of
you have got to keep quiet."

"All right, mum's the world, old man," answered Dan Baxter cheerfully.

"Did you hear?" demanded the long-nosed man, looking at Sam.

"I did."

"Are you going to mind?"

"I am not your slave."

"Humph! Do you know what Todd said to me? He said: 'If the kid won't
keep quiet when you tell him, shoot him.' How do you like that?"

"I don't like it."

"I am going to run no chances with you," continued Andy Jimson. "You
have got to keep very quiet. Don't you open your mouth once after we
get started. I've got a pistol handy, and I know how to use it."

In the meantime, several from the ranch were walking around, talking
in low, excited tones. Then, from a distance, came a shot, followed
by two more in rapid succession.

"The signal!" cried Sack Todd. "Boys, something is doing now, sure.
We must get away, and at once. Are you all ready?"

There was a chorus of assents.

"I think we had better divide. The wagons can go by the honey-tree
route, and those on horseback by the swamp road. We can meet at the
Four Rocks tomorrow, if all goes well."

So it was agreed, and soon some of the horsemen were off, each carrying
a load of some kind. Then the wagons began to move, that with the
load of boxes going first. The turnouts plunged at once into the
woods, where the darkness was intense. They made scarcely any noise,
for the wagons were rubber-tired and the horses wore rubber guards
on their shoes.

It would be hard to analyze Sam's feelings as he realized that he
was being taken away from the ranch, he knew not to where. To escape
in the darkness was out of the question, for the man who sat beside
him had his arm linked into