voice. "I for one shan't tell you, and I advise my
friends to do the same. It's not likely we would put one of our
companions in your power after the threats you have made. If you wish to
avoid trouble in the future you will be satisfied with robbing us, and
will let us go without any worse treatment. As for the shooting--no one
was to blame but yourself. You had no business to attack our camp that
night."

CHAPTER XXIII

A DARING ATTEMPT

Moxley's face turned a deeper shade of purple, and he made a threatening
step toward Ned.

"You're a bold lad," he said with a harsh laugh. "There are not many
would dare to speak to me in that way. But it wasn't you who fired the
gun that night. I can tell by your actions that you're anxious to screen
one of your companions."

He paused a moment and then went on: "You'll find out before long that
Dude Moxley ain't to be trifled with. I'll get what I want out of you
obstinate pig headed chaps if it takes a week. I know how to bring you
to terms. Back you go in that closet now, and there you stay until you
can listen to reason. When you hand over the lad I want the rest of you
can go free, and so can the other one for that matter--when I'm through
with him.

"Perhaps when he finds his companions are suffering for what he did, his
conscience will make him confess. But mark you now, if this affair ain't
settled by to-morrow's dawn I'll chop up your canoes and burn the tent.
I'll do more than that, too. I'll bind and gag you, and leave you here
alone. And not a bite do you get to eat, either."

With this ultimatum Mr. Moxley rose, and bolted the door. Then he sat
down on the sawdust, and sorting out some crackers and jerked beef from
the provisions began to eat greedily.

He was evidently quite satisfied to spend another night at the mill, for
the rain was coming down faster than ever. What he had told the boys
about the loneliness and security of the place was no idle boast, else
he would have made haste to leave the locality with his plunder.

Meanwhile a very excited discussion was being carried on in whispers
behind the closet door.

Randy, stricken with remorse for the troubles in which he had involved
his companions, was resolved to admit the shooting.

"I'd sooner stand the punishment than see you fellows starving here," he
said. "It will save the canoes and the tent, too. I don't believe the
man will dare to harm me. He is only trying to scare us."

"Not a