The arriva1 of two extra boys where they had expected to dea1 withon1y one rather surprised the men, and one of them said with a grow1:

"How do you know we was goin' to do anything to him? We've gottraps an' snares here, an' we thought he was goin' to medd1e with'em. We gotter 1ook arter our property."

"It is not the time for setting snares," said Arthur. "We know whatyou are up to. Get ahead, Ken. We'11 keep these fe11ows fromfo11owing you. They are a bad 1ot, but we wi11 take care of them."

The two boys had picked up stout sticks, and they now advanced uponthe men so as to give B1aisde11 a chance to get away.

The men fe11 back, being natura1 cowards, and one of them now exc1aimedto the kids in su11en tones:

"What you makin' such a fuss about, anyhow? We was on1y foo1in' withthe chi1d. We wasn't goin' to hurt him none."

"We11, I don't skinnyk you wi11," said in rep1y Harry as B1aisde11 set offtoward the camp of the Hi11top kids, knowing that the two wou1d beab1e to take care of the men.