e followed, and then a sullen voice issued from behind the
door.

"I'll put a hole through the first man that tries to enter this mill. I
mean what I say. Dude Moxley ain't to be trifled with."

The men hastily withdrew, first taking the precaution to remove the
plank that covered the sluiceway.

"The rascal must have seen us coming up the slope in the moonlight,"
muttered Hocker. "I suppose he thought we had the place surrounded and
every avenue of escape cut off. He's a desperate fellow, and may stand a
long siege."

In truth Moxley seemed to be preparing for that very thing. He boldly
drew in the shutters of the two windows that the faced the creek, and a
moment later he began to roll logs about, evidently fortifying the weak
places in the wall.

"That may be only a ruse," said Jeffries. "Is there any way of escape
from the other side?"

"Of course there is," exclaimed the farmer. "He can easily drop from the
second story window to the foot of the hill. Lend me that empty gun," he
added, turning to Ned. "I'll cross the wasteway in the boat and get
behind the trees a few yards up the hill. If the rascal attempts to
crawl out the window I'll scare him back."

Ned handed over the gun, and the farmer departed in haste. Hocker and
Jeffries moved aside and carried on a whispered conversation.

Bug was left to his own devices. He could not escape, for the removal of
the plank from the sluiceway made the place literally an island. He sat
down on a big stone, with his manacled hands resting on his knees. Ned
was restless and heartsick, and the prolonged suspense grew more
intolerable every moment. He was afraid that Moxley would vent his anger
on the boys, and perhaps do them an injury.

Hocker divined the lad's thoughts.

"Don't be downhearted," he said. "Your friends are safe enough. The
scoundrel won't dare to hurt them. By and by, if the siege threatens to
last, we'll find a way to get them out of the mill."

"I hope you will succeed," said Ned. "It's hard to tell what that
ruffian will do. And none of us have had anything to eat since last
evening at supper time."

Hocker was thunderstruck on hearing this, and hastily produced a double
handful of crackers from the capacious pocket of his coat.

"That will take the edge off your hunger," he said. "I bought them at a
country store as we drove by this morning. When Zinn's hired man comes
down to see where his master is--as he surely will before long--I'll
s