to them what tries to hurt you, for she couldn't so much as put up
her hands. If you keep on forgivin' duffers like Dan Fernald, you're
bound to be in such scrapes as this all the time. What he needed was a
sound thumpin', when he begun talkin' so rough to aunt Dorcas; then he
wouldn't dared to try a game of this kind. When I get hold of him again,
I'll make up for lost time."

"I'll bet he's somewhere 'round here, watchin' out, an' when he sees
this game didn't work, he'll try somethin' else."

"Not much he won't. I know pretty near where he is, an' I'm goin' to
make him--"

At this moment the voice of the princess could be heard in vehement
protest against thus being left alone, and Joe was forced to defer his
punishment of the amateur detective until a more convenient season.

"Stay here, Plums, an' watch for Dan, while I go and get the princess.
He went among them trees over there, so's to have a reserved seat while
the house was burnin'; but he's got to come out some time."

"Don't stay away too long, for I ain't certain as I'd dare to tackle him
alone,--you see I'm too fat to be much of a fighter."

A certain quaver in Plums's voice told that he was afraid to be alone
even while Dan was a long distance away, and Joe thought it extremely
comical that any one should fear the amateur detective.

The princess did not object to taking a walk, fortunately for Master
Plummer's peace of mind, and, in a short time, the three were patrolling
the grounds, Joe carrying the little maid whenever she insisted upon
such service.

At noonday, a certain amount of food was brought out on the lawn in
front of the house, and, even while the boys ate, they continued their
self-imposed duty of guarding the premises.

Then the princess wanted to sleep, and Joe sat by her side, while Plums
kept watch from the windows, or walked rapidly around the buildings.

So far as Dan was concerned, they might as well have amused themselves
according to their own fancies, for he never showed himself after having
sought refuge in the grove.

When the excitement consequent upon the attempt to destroy aunt Dorcas's
home had subsided in a measure, the boys began to speculate upon the
reasons for the little woman's hurried departure, but could arrive at no
satisfactory conclusion as to what it might be she hoped to accomplish.

"Of course she could do a pile of beggin' off for a feller, 'cause
anybody would have to listen to her; but when the