of the boy with the sallow face.
Perhaps he had even suspected something of the kind for quite a little
time back. At least such a thing would account for the way in which he
had been leading Tony along, until he unwittingly, in defending his
father, gave his secret away.

From the look on his face it seemed as though the boy half feared that
these new friends would turn against him when they learned how McGee
was his father. He was therefore considerably surprised to have Phil
reach out, and grasp his hand in a warm clutch.

"You knew my name as soon as you heard it, Tony," he said, with a smile
that went straight to the heart of the ragged lad. "And ever since
you've been trying to get me to give up this mission of mine. It tells
me that you've already begun to think something of Phil Lancing. And
it encourages me to think your father will do the same, after he gets
to know me."

But Tony shook his head, as if in great doubt.

"Oh! if you knowed just how he's come to hate that name, you wouldn't
dast let him see yuh," he said. "All sorts o' things has been told
'bout how your dad meant tuh chase weuns off'n his land. Some even
says as how the soldiers was agwine tuh be used tuh hunt the squatters
through the swamps whar they has lived always, an' which is the on'y
home they got."

"All of which is a lie made out of whole cloth," declared Phil,
indignantly, "my father isn't that sort of man. Why, he wanted to come
down here himself and meet the McGee face to face; but he had an
important lot of business on hand. Perhaps he may show up yet! And
when your father once comes to know him, he'll never have cause to feel
sore toward Dr. Gideon Lancing, because he happens to be a rich man."

"I've heard 'em talkin' about it heaps," said Tony, "an' they 'spect to
have tuh fight sooner or later. They's a hard lot, and live a wild
life. Yuh couldn't blame 'em much for hatin' the name of the man they
look on as their enemy."

"Wait a little while, Tony. I'm bound to meet your father, and see if
I can't change that stubborn mind of his. Perhaps I've got some magic
about me. Perhaps I could show him something that would change a foe
into a friend. Anyhow, all you say doesn't alter my mind a mite," and
Phil smiled into the troubled face of the swamp boy as he spoke.

Larry had listened to all this with the greatest interest. While he
might to some extent share the confidence of his chum, still he did not
fe