put it past them?" Paul asked; "haven't they proved
themselves ready to do any sort of mean trick in the past? All we can do
is to keep constantly ready, and live up to our motto."

"But suppose they do jump in on us; must we turn the other cheek, and
get it on both sides?" demanded Jack, with whom this was always a
disputed point.

"Not by any means," declared his chum, positively. "Boys may go a
certain distance in forgiving an enemy who is sorry, and asks to be let
off; but they never will stand for milk and water stuff like that, and
you know it, Jack. We seek no quarrel, and will go as far as the next
one to avoid it; but," and Paul's face took on a look of grim
determination while he was speaking, "if they push us too far, why we
must just sail in and lick the whole bunch. Sometimes peace can only be
had after fighting for it."

"Glad to hear you say so. Shall we go back to the camp now, Paul?" asked
his chum.

"Might as well, I reckon," came the answer; "because we have no idea of
following this trail back to where that crowd has camped. But I'm glad I
happened to glimpse that fellow as he came around the bend. It gives us
fair warning, and if we're caught napping, why we deserve to get the
worst of the argument, that's all."

"Huh! I'm glad we brought our staves along then," observed Jack.

They turned to retrace their steps. Paul half fancied he had seen a
flitting figure among the trees not far away; but the light was so
uncertain, he could not say positively that it had not been a passing
shadow, cast by one of the boys near by, crossing in front of the big
fire.

If Ted and his followers were in truth hovering around, it would not be
advisable for himself and Jack to wander any further away, lest they be
set upon, overpowered by superior numbers, and kidnapped.

That would be a sad beginning to the great tour, which was almost
certain to cause it to prove a failure from the start. Perhaps those
shrewd plotters meant that it should be so; and were laying all their
plans to that effect.

Unconsciously, then, Paul quickened his footsteps, and cast more than
one glance over his shoulder, not fancying being taken by surprise. Even
his companion noticed his uneasiness, and commented on it.

"Oh!" laughed Paul, "I imagine the idea must have come to me that they'd
like nothing better than to nab both of us, and carry us off. With no
head, the boys would soon get sick of staying up here, and scatter for