Then when I said they could pay for the missing things they
told me to clear out or they'd have me locked up for trespassing
on Mr. Spink's land!"

"That's like Ham," answered Snap.

"I wish we could pay them off good," went on Whopper.

Just then Ham Spink and Carl Dudder came out of the post-office.
Snap and the others were standing behind some boxes of goods and
the dude and his chum did not at once see them.

"We'll have a celebration with those fireworks when they come," Ham
was saying. "We'll show Fairview a great sight."

"That's right," returned Carl Dudder. "We'll put them in my father's
barn until we want to use them."

Then both boys caught sight of Snap and the others and broke off
their talk. They, wanted to brush past without speaking, but Snap
and Shep blocked the way.

"We want to talk to you," said Snap.

"We have nothing to say," cried Ham, haughtily. "Get out of my way!"
And he tried to brush past again.

"Ham Spink, I want to say just one thing," answered Snap. "I
think you are as mean as you ever were, and I, for one, am going
to pay you back for what you did the day we went swimming."

"Oh, give us a rest" muttered the dudish youth, and went on, and
Carl Dudder followed, sticking his tongue in his cheek as he passed.

"Say, shall we pitch into them?" whispered Whopper. "We can knock
them into the middle of next month!"

"No---wait---I've just thought of something," interposed Snap. "Let
them go and come with me."

He led the way to a safe distance and then turned to Whopper.

"Did you hear them speak of some fireworks?"

"Sure."

"Did they say anything about the fireworks in the post office?

"Why, yes. But what has that got to do with------"

"What did they say, Whopper?"

"Why, it seems Ham and Carl and some other fellows---the same crowd
that has been against us for so long---have chipped in and ordered
some fireworks from the city. They are going to set the fireworks
off in front of the Dudder house on Fourth of July night. The Spink
family and some others are to be there. Ham and Carl are boasting
what a fine celebration it is to be."

"Then I know what I'm going to do," said Snap.

"What?" came from all of the others.

"They took our clothing---why can't we take the fireworks?"

"Whoop! Just the cheese!" ejaculated Whopper. "We can set them
off in the public square."

"Where the whole community can see them," added Giant.

"And we can return the r