ra did not say a word. She stood up and looked over at Liz Bean.
For a moment the maid-of-all-work seemed petrified.

Then she dove for the growling Barnacle. She untied the rope with
which he was fastened.

"Hello!" exclaimed the puffing sheriff. "What's _that_ for?"

Liz held the Barnacle with difficulty; the dog bared his teeth at the
sheriff and uttered a series of most blood-curdling growls.

"You come botherin' around _here_," said Liz, desperately, "an' I'll
let him fly at ye!"

CHAPTER XXIV

THE BARNACLE TREES SOMETHING AT LAST

Both the girls of Central High, and their brothers and boy friends, in
the camp across the lake, had believed the Barnacle to be "all bluff."
He was a fine dog for barking, as Short and Long had said, but he
acted as though he thought his teeth had been given him for chewing
his food, and for nothing else.

The savage way in which he bayed the sheriff, however, and tried to
get at him as Liz held him in leash, was really surprising. It was no
wonder that Sheriff Larkin started back and cried out in alarm.

"Don't you dare set that dawg on me, young woman!" he cried. "I'll
have the law on yer, if yer do."

"He'll chaw yer up if I let him go," threatened Liz. "Git out o'
here!"

"Why, Lizzie!" gasped Mrs. Morse, coming to the door of the cabin, and
speaking to the girl in a most amazed tone. "What does this mean?"

"He's a body snatcher! he's a man hunter! he's ev'rything mean an'
filthy!" exclaimed the girl, her face red and her eyes blazing. Her
appearance was really most astonishing. Laura would never have
believed that "Lonesome Liz" could display so much emotion.

"Let him bother this camp if he dares!" went on Liz. "He was told by
that old gentleman to keep away from here, wasn't he? Then let him
run, for I ain't a-goin' to hold this dawg in much longer!"

It seemed that her threat would hold true. At every leap Barnacle
made, he seemed about to tear the rope from her grasp.

"Missis!" yelled the sheriff to Mrs. Morse. "You'd better call that
gal off----"

"She ain't got nothin' to do with it," declared Liz. "I ain't workin'
for her no more. I ain't workin' for nobody. I've struck, I have! You
can't hold nobody responserble but me an' Barnacle."

"The gal's crazy!" squalled the sheriff, going rapidly backward, for
the dog and Liz were advancing.

"Well, you won't shet me up in no 'sylum," declared Liz, grimly. "But
ye _may_ send me ter the penitentiary.