the
door, and through the uncurtained window, and see plainly all that
went on. They could also hear plainly, for the men and old Denny spoke
loudly. And, as yet, the girls had not been noticed.

"Now, look here!" said Bruce, and there was a snarl in his voice.
"This is our last offer, Shane. Either you take the hundred and fifty
dollars, and testify the way we want you to, or we'll find means to
make you, and you won't get the money. And I'll say this, that we'll
treat the Widow Lewis as fair as we can."

"Which won't be fair at all!" burst out Denny. "Not at all!"

"Well, what's your answer?" cried Kelly. "We can't stay here all
night. Give him the money, Bruce. When he feels it he'll hate to let
it go."

Bruce held out the roll of bills. To the surprise of Cora and the
girls the fisherman took them. Was he going to betray Freda and her
mother?

The next instant they knew Denny for the brave-souled man he was.

"That's me answer!" he cried, throwing the bills in the face of Bruce.
"Take your evil money and get out. I'll stick to the widder!"

For a moment the men were nonplussed. Then, with an angry exclamation,
Bruce started forward.

"Come, girls," said Cora, "we've got to go to the aid of Denny. For
some reason the boys aren't here. We've got to save him!" and with
this brave resolve she moved toward the cabin.

CHAPTER XXVII

THE RED OAR AGAIN

"Cora Kimball, what are you going to do?" gasped Lottie, trying to
hold back her chum.

"I'm going to go to Denny's aid. Why shouldn't I? It's four to one,
but even if we are girls we can perhaps turn the tide in his favor."

"Oh, Cora, I don't dare!" admitted Belle.

"Nor I," added her plump sister. "I'll faint if you go in where those
horrid men are."

"Faint if you like," returned Cora, calmly. "Somebody else will have
to look after you, then, for I'm going."

"But why?" asked Lottie. "We ought not to interfere when men are going
to fight, and I think that's what's going to happen in there."

"That is what's going to happen," said Cora, "but perhaps we can
prevent it. For some unknown reason, though the boys promised to come
here and defend Denny, they haven't done so. Therefore, it's our place
to do it."

"Yes, and I'm going with you!" announced Marita, determinedly.

All this talk had taken but a few seconds of time, and, as it had been
in whispers, the men in the cabin had not heard it. The situation,
however, was rapidly becoming acu