aid, "but it couldn't be helped. The rascal must
have heard some noise you made."

"It's hard luck, that's a fact," muttered Hocker. "I'll square accounts
with that scoundrel afore I'm many hours older. The idea of his
threatenin' to shoot me with my own gun; that's what riles me most. It's
a pity we didn't get the food up. The boys'll have to starve a little
longer, I reckon."

"It will be only a little, too," replied Jeffries grimly. "I don't
intend to stand any more nonsense. We'll think over the matter and
decide on some kind of a move. Moxley has got to come out of that mill.
That settles it."

The party went slowly back to the bushes, and Ned satisfied his hunger
with the bread and cold meat Abner had brought, while Jeffries and
Hocker carried on a low, earnest discussion.

Presently the quiet was interrupted in an unexpected manner. Being
restless and unhappy Bug wandered up toward the mill, and unwittingly
strayed into a patch of silvery moonlight.

Moxley must have been on the watch, and the sight of his old chum put
him into a fury. He was ignorant of Ned's escape, and naturally
attributed his misfortunes to Bug.

"You black hearted dog," he cried savagely. "I'll get square with you.
If I go to jail you'll go with me. It was all your fault anyhow. You
persuaded me to go after these boys, and it was you who broke into the
cabin and stole the gun and boat. I tried to keep you from it, but you
wouldn't listen.

"Oh, you'll pay up for your treachery. I'll swear to all these
things--and a good many more--in court. That is if I get there--which
ain't at all likely. And if I _do_ get out of this hole I'll hunt you
down, if it takes a year."

Moxley's rage was so violent that Bug prudently retreated to the bushes.

The ruffian kept up his abuse and called Bug all manner of vile names
until he was compelled to stop for sheer want of breath.

Bug came down to Hocker and Jeffries and stood before them.

"Look here," he said hoarsely, "what that rascal says ain't true--at
least the most of it ain't. What part I had in stealin' the boat I've
made amends fur already, and now I'm willing to do a good deal more. A
little while ago I felt kinder sorry for Moxley because me an' him has
been together a good part of the summer. But when a man goes back on an
old friend, an' calls him bad names, an' tries to get him into trouble
by lyin', then I'm done with that man fur good.

"I'd sooner see him in jail now than ru