e morning
he'll just rub his eyes and begin to think the fairies have paid him
a visit in the night. And when he learns who did it perhaps he may feel
something like you did, William. Don't you see, _it'll be rubbing it in
good and hard_!"

Paul waited to see how his suggestion took.

The boys stared at each other in amazement. It is doubtful whether a
parcel of wide-awake lads ever before had such a novel proposition made
to them. And perhaps it was the sensational character of the appeal that
stirred them more than any desire to return good for evil.

"Count me in that job, Paul," said Jack positively.

He had timed his interruption with exceeding cleverness. Boys are like
sheep, and given a bell wether they will follow blindly where the leader
goes.

"Me too!" cried Bobolink, quickly.

"Ditto! I'm for the game just as Paul says!" exclaimed Nuthin'.

And every one in the crowd followed suit, laughing at the idea of their
turning the tables on the old farmer in such an unheard-of fashion;
though several doubtless secretly scoffed at the project, and only agreed
because it seemed to be a necessary evil if they wanted to become Boy
Scouts.

CHAPTER VII

THE TRAP THAT PELEG SET

"There's Growdy's shack and barns!"

"Don't seem to be anything stirring, fellows!"

"Look out for a trap. Once bitten, twice shy. Perhaps he's just laying
for some fellers to come along, and play some more paintin' job trick.
I heard that he said he would find some way to stop the nuisance!"

This from "Red" Betts, who was known as a cautious chap, and able to
vanish at the first sign of danger better than any fellow in town.

"Suppose we hold up here, and send out scouts to see how the land lies?
That's the military way of doing it," ventured Bobolink.

"A good idea, and I appoint you, Bobolink, with Jud Elderkin, to carry
out the little business," remarked Paul, in a low tone.

"Trot along, you chaps; the rest of us will bunk right here alongside
the road and wait till you report," and suiting the action to his words
William dropped in his tracks.

A brief time elapsed, and then the pair of spies returned.

"Not a single light in the house, and the coast clear, fellows; so come
on!" and Jud waved his long arms as though enjoying his brief assumption
of authority to the limit.

It would have doubtless astonished the old farmer had he chanced upon the
scene just then. A young moon hung in the western sky, and while