ey have made you a prisoner," remarked Luke, as he
noticed that Link's hands were tied behind him.

"Humph! they had no right to do it," growled the prisoner. "Where are
you going to take me, anyhow?"

"We are going to take you to our bungalows," announced Dave. "There you
will have the pleasure of talking the matter over with Mr. Wadsworth."

At the mention of the name of the man he had robbed, Link Merwell winced
and his face paled. Evidently he did not relish what was in store for
him.

"Say, having his hands tied behind him puts me in mind of a story,"
began Shadow. "Once there was a fellow----" and then, as the would-be
story teller saw a look of disgust coming over the faces of his chums,
he added hastily: "Oh, well, never mind. I'll tell you that story some
other time."

"Is Mr. Wadsworth staying up here with you?" asked Link, while Ben and
the others prepared to return to the bungalows.

"He is," answered Dave.

"Is his family with him?"

"Yes, we are all up here for a short vacation." Dave looked at his enemy
squarely in the eyes. "Link, do you think you are treating me just
right? I never put a straw in your way, and yet you have done everything
you could to make things unpleasant for me. I tried to help you down on
Cave Island, and in return for that you have been sending letters to Nat
Poole asking him to help you in hurting me. And then the other day you
sent that note calling me a 'poorhouse nobody.'"

"Oh, don't preach to me, Dave Porter!" growled the youth who had been
made a prisoner. "I hate that kind of talk. You always tried to set
yourself up as being better than any one else. Maybe you could get on
the soft side of Gus Plum, but you can't play any such game as that on
me. I know what I am doing."

"Link, I'm sorry to hear you talk that way," went on Dave, earnestly.
"Do you want to spend all your life in prison?"

"Bah, don't talk to me! Didn't I tell you I don't want any preaching? If
I've got to go to jail I'll go, but it won't be for long, mark my words!
My father has got lots of money, and I guess the lawyers will know what
to do. But let me tell you something, Dave Porter"--and now Link
Merwell's face showed both cunning and hatred--"you found fault with
that note I sent to you calling you a poorhouse nobody. Well, that is
all you are; a poorhouse nobody!"

"See here, Link----" began our hero, his temper rising.

"Oh, now, just wait, Dave Porter! Just wait a little, and you'll