hem, and the angry faces of Jerry, Frank, yes, and Andy,
impressed them deeply.

"Examine them, Will. Do you think either has been injured?" asked Frank.

"'Course they ain't. How could they be when I kerried 'em carefully. Them
scratches was on ther camera afore I touched it, I'll swar to that!"
exclaimed Pet, really alarmed by this time.

At which Andy grinned as if highly amused.

"I guess everything's safe, Frank. They stopped just in time. Another
minute and the damage could not have been repaired," sang out the
delighted Will, ready to almost dance with joy.

"Which is a lucky thing for them, then. Now, I don't know why we should
hang out here much longer. We've got our own, and the air of this camp
isn't quite as nice as I'd like. Shall we go, fellows?" asked Frank.

"Might as well," answered Jerry; "but before we do I think these chaps
ought to be told that the sheriff promised to drop in and see us
to-morrow; and that if there's any more of this humbug and annoyance
tried, I'm going to ask him to take the whole bunch back to Centerville."

"And I promise to prefer a charge of malicious mischief against them, and
an attempt to destroy property. Incendiarism is a crime, especially when
life is placed in peril; and one of us might have been burned while we
slept," added Frank, severely.

There were exclamations of alarm from the cowering boys. They had been
intimidated by the guns of Jerry and his chum, but this new source of
danger chilled their ardor wonderfully.

"I reckon we ain't goin' to try any more tricks, fellers. Thought we'd
have a leetle fun out of this campin' business; but seein' as how ye take
it so hard, we'd better draw off," muttered Pet, completely humbled.

"Yes, 'fun for the boys, but death to the frogs,' as the old story says.
That sort of thing is too one-sided to suit me. Just play your jokes on
each other, if you must amuse yourselves. We have our own way of
extracting fun out of an outing. Well, come along, boys. And, Andy, thank
you for helping get Jerry out of that hole."

He thrust out his hand to the other as he spoke, but Andy did not take
it.

"Ain't got anything to do with the rest of ye; but Jerry he saved my
life. I told him I was goin' to quit naggin' his crowd, an' so I am; but
that don't mean I'm a turnin' a saint right away. Pet here is itchin' for
a lickin', an' I got a good notion to 'commodate him."

Andy glared in the direction of his lieutenant, and it was