e reason----"

"You don't think they would kill him?" interrupted Jerry, quickly.

Sparwick looked grave.

"No; I wouldn't like to say that," he replied. "But them fellers are bad
men, an' there's no tellin' what they might do."

"You know them?" asked Hamp, in surprise.

"Yes; this many a year. But I wanter hear this whole yarn afore I kin
give any opinion."

Accordingly, Jerry and Hamp related what little there was to tell.
Brick's abduction threw light on some things that had been mysteries
before. It was Jerry's keen wit that identified Joe Bogle with the
missionary on the train. Sparwick took the same view of the matter.

"Yes," he admitted, "I reckon Bogle is the party that tried to rob your
friend at Bangor that night. Knowin' the lad had money, he an' Raikes
planned to follow you chaps into the woods. As I said before, I know the
men well. Bogle and Raikes ain't their right names, for they have a heap
of others. But we'll call 'em that for the present."

Brick's abduction was discussed for half an hour longer, but neither
Sparwick nor the boys could hit upon a plausible solution.

"Can't we get out of this place and follow the rascals?" suggested
Jerry. "There are three of us, and we have plenty of arms and
ammunition."

"If we do, we've got to hurry," declared Hamp. "They've got a big start
on us."

"Look here," exclaimed Sparwick. "You say this lad has a rich father in
New York?"

"Yes," replied Jerry.

"And the old man would likely fork over handsome if I was to get his son
out of a tight place?"

"I suppose he would," Jerry answered. "If we get all that money back,
I'm sure Brick will give you a big reward himself."

"Well, I'll do my best," declared Sparwick, with sudden energy. "I ain't
much on the fight, but I'm purty good on strategy. And that's how we'll
tackle these fellows. I have an idea where they'll strike for. If you
lads say the word, I'll lead you right to the spot."

CHAPTER XXIII.

BACK TO FREEDOM.

It is needless to say that Hamp and Jerry accepted Kyle Sparwick's offer
with ill-concealed eagerness. That it was prompted solely by greed made
no difference to them under the circumstances.

They felt that Brick must be rescued at any cost.

Sparwick bound the boys by a solemn agreement to do all in their power
to procure for him a reward of five hundred dollars. They were staggered
by the munificence of th