t, too. Ugh!"

Grumbling in this fashion Larry proceeded to climb up to the little
window that seemed to be at some distance from the floor; and which
made Phil believe this particular shanty must have originally been
intended for a prison of some sort.

A minute later a loud exclamation and lament from Larry drew his
attention.

"What's all the row?" he demanded, his own curiosity aroused.

"Oh! if you could only see what they're doing, Phil?" groaned the
clinging one, as he still stared out of the small opening through which
the outside air reached the captives of the squatter tribe.

"Suppose you tell me, then?" suggested Phil, promptly enough.

"Don't you believe these shingle-makers down here may have just a
little touch of Injun blood in their veins?" demanded Larry. "Because,
as sure as anything, they're driving two big stakes right into the
ground out here--two of 'em, do you understand, Phil? And the kids are
a-dancin' around like the very old Harry; just like Injuns might do
when they expected to burn a prisoner at the stake!"

"What!" cried Phil, staggered at first; and then incredulous at the
strange assertion of his chum, he too started to climb up the rough log
wall so as to reach the window opening.

"There, look for yourself, Chum Phil!" gasped Larry, as the other
joined him. "I just felt it in my bones I would come to some bad end.
But, oh! what would my poor mother think if she knew her boy was going
to be a candle, a torch!"

"Oh, shucks! Larry, don't you believe that sort of stuff!" Phil
declared, even though it did look very significant to see those twin
stakes being driven into the ground, with a crowd of ragged and
barefooted youngsters showing savage delight, as keen as though a
circus had come to town.

"Then what are they meaning to do with those stakes?" demanded Larry.

"Oh! well, that's hard to say," stammered Phil. "Perhaps they do
expect to fix us up there, just for a frolic, and have some fun with
us. But even McGee, ugly as he is, wouldn't dream of burning anybody
at the stake!"

"All right then, it's the other thing," said Larry. "Just look at what
they're luggin' over now, and tell me if you can, what it is."

When the industrious bunch of half-grown boys opened up enough for Phil
to get a glimpse of the heavy object that engaged their attention, he
could not keep from uttering an exclamation of chagrin.

"See, you know just as well as I do that it's a sure mel