in a sudden turn the Boss caught him in a deadly body-lock which
left him half-stunned and panting, at his mercy. And there was no mercy
in the man. When Val looked up into that flushed, snarling face, he knew
that he was as hopeless as a trapped animal. The man could--and
would--finish him at his leisure.

"This way, Rupert! Sam!" the cry reached even Val's dulled ears.

The man above him stirred. The boy saw the blood-lust fade from his eyes
and apprehension take its place. He got to his feet, launching a last
bruising kick at Val's ribs before he limped across the clearing. On his
way he hauled Red to his feet. They were going, not toward the path from
the bayou, but around the house on the trail that Jeems had followed.
Val struggled up and looked around. The turf was torn and gouged. In the
dust lay his club and Red's revolver.

And by the steps lay something else, a slight brown figure. Painfully
the boy got to his feet and lurched across to Jeems.

CHAPTER XII

THE RALESTONES BRING HOME A RELUCTANT GUEST

The swamper was lying on his back, his eyes closed. From a great purple
welt across his forehead the blood oozed sluggishly. When Val touched
him he moaned faintly.

"Val! Are you hurt? What's the matter?" Ricky was upon them like a
whirlwind out of the bush.

"Jeems stopped a nasty one," her brother panted.

"Is he--" She dropped down in the dust beside them.

"He's knocked out, and he'll have a bad headache for some time, but I
don't think it's any worse than that."

Ricky had pulled out a microscopic bit of handkerchief and was dabbing
at the blood in an amateurish way. Jeems moaned and turned his head as
if to get away from her ministrations.

"Where's Rupert--and Sam?" Val looked toward the path. "They were with
you, weren't they?"

Ricky shook her head. "No. That was just what you call creating a
diversion. For all I know, they're busy at home."

Her brother straightened. "Then we've got to get out of here--fast.
Those two left because they were rattled, but when they have had a
chance to cool off they'll be back."

"What about Jeems?"

"Take him with us, of course. We won't be able to manage the canoe. But
you brought the outboard, so we'll go in that and tow the canoe. We
ought to have something to cover his head." Val regarded the bleeding
wound doubtfully.

Without answering, Ricky leaned forward and began systematically going
through Jeems' pockets. In the second she fou