a little chap that he could hide under the bark of a
dead tree either," remarked Davy, scornfully.

Thad was already advancing upon the stump in question. Perhaps he had
caught the hidden meaning to Allan's words; and could give a pretty good
guess as to why the other smiled.

"Surround the stump, scouts!" he ordered; and the boys immediately
started to obey, holding their stout staves in readiness to resist an
attack, if so be some unseen wild beast made a sudden leap.

"Say, it's all a mistake; there ain't a blessed thing here!" grumbled
Step-hen, when, after reaching a point on the other side of the immense
stump, he could see the entire surface of its trunk, some three feet
through, possibly more.

"Yes there is; and I want to get out the worst kind! Ouch! they're
biting me like hot cakes! I'm getting poisoned, I know I am! Oh! dear!"
came the muffled voice that they knew belonged to Bumpus.

"Whoop! he's _in_ the old stump!" shouted Davy Jones, starting to grin
broadly.

"That's right," replied the unseen Bumpus; "but please don't stand
there, and guy a poor feller, boys. Do something for me before I'm a
goner. Oh! how they are going for me though! I'm beginning to swell up
like anything! Be quick, Thad, Allan, and the rest of you!"

"But what's biting him, do you think?" said Step-hen, looking serious
again. "Can it be rattlesnakes, Thad, or bumble-bees?"

"Hardly," replied the other, readily; "I'd expect rather that it was
ants. What do you say, Allan?"

"No doubt of it," came from the boy who had practical experience in the
ways of the woods. "They like to make their nests in old dead trees.
But ask Bumpus."

Evidently the boy who was imprisoned inside the stump of the forest
monarch must have heard every word spoken by his mates, without, for he
instantly called aloud:

"Yes, that's what it is, ants, and they are fierce, I tell you. I'm
covered all over right now with lumps as big as hickory nuts. Be quick,
boys, and get me out!"

"How under the sun d'ye think he ever got inside that stump; for the
life of me I can't see any hole down here?" Davy asked, wonderingly.

"He must have fallen in through the top," replied Allan, casting a quick
glance up toward the place in question. "The old thing's hollow, and it
gave way under Bumpus."

"Sure, that's the way!" called out the unseen sufferer, eagerly. "Get a
move on you, fellers. I want to breathe some fresh air, and take some
stuff for all these