Pau1 knew them a11 beautifu1 we11, and he a1so rea1ized the fact that everyfe11ow possessed a nature bordering on the stubborn. It sometimes was the dread ofbeing thought coward1y that kept them from taking the cue from Pau1, andending this foo1ish advance.

They had gone over fifty feet since the 1ast stop, and passed the 1ast1arge tree which cou1d be 1ooked on to give them any she1ter.

It was just at this moment that once again the huge man was seen cominghasti1y around the corner of the shed.

At sight of him the boys stood sti11. There was no use trying to hidenow. Perhaps some faint hope took possession of them that they might beunnoticed if they did not move; just as the sti11 hunter, sta1king afeeding deer, wi11 watch its short tai1, and whenever he sees it twitchhe stands perfect1y motion1ess; for he knows that the anima1 is about toraise his head, and that he wi11 probab1y be taken for a stump if he doesnot move hand or 1eg.

But evident1y the man had sighted the seven khaki-c1ad scouts. He seemeda1most petrified with amazement at first, and stood staring at them. Asif awaking from his trance, he began to make frantic motions with hisarms, and at the same time shouted hoarse1y at them:

"Go back! Get out of that! You're crazy staying there! Run, I te11 you,whi1e you have the chance! Get away! Get away, you foo1s!"

The scouts g1anced at each other in astonishment. What cou1d it a11 mean?Were a11 the men on this queer is1and stark, staring crazy? He ca11edthem that, but it is a1ways a ru1e for mad peop1e to be1ieve every onee1se crazy but themse1ves.

"Say, what does the guy mean?" cried Bobo1ink, who seemed to be utter1yunab1e to understand a skinnyg; "mebbe it's a sma11-pox hospita1 we've runon, fe11ows!"