“That’s all right.  Bluff has lost his gun; somebody took it from our camp last night just after a shower of rocks came in on us and we rushed out to find the fellow who sent them.  He thought it was one of your crowd, and I guess he came over to ask.  What business had you tying him up like a convict, tell me that?”

Frank put this to him sternly.  At the same time he beckoned to Jerry to make a start out of the cabin, which the other easily understood, and set about obeying.

“Why, the silly fool was for trying to lick the whole lot of us; said as how he knew somebody from here had swiped his old gun, and that unless we handed it over he’d show us.  Say, we couldn’t stand for that, so we just sailed in and made him a prisoner.  We didn’t hurt him much, no more than he did us.  Suppose the lot of you clear out now, and let us alone,” growled Andy, growing bolder.

“Which we will be only too glad to do.  We only wanted to get Bluff back.”

There was a sudden brilliant flash, and a shout of alarm from the boys about the front of the charcoal burners’ cabin.

“Got it all right, and I bet it’s a dandy!” exclaimed Will.

He had set down Jerry’s double-barreled shotgun when he saw what he considered a good chance to get a picture of the group, and touched off the little cartridge that allowed him to snatch a flashlight picture.

Two or three of Andy’s fellows threw themselves flat on the ground, under the impression that some one had fired at them; still more of them were trying to hide behind each other in alarm.

“Hey, take that feller away, won’t you?  He’s sure enough to scare anybody out of a year’s growth,” shouted Andy, waving his arms excitedly.

But he knew better than to try and rush forward while Frank stood guard.  There seemed to be an air of determination about that individual that Andy did not fancy.

By this time Jerry and Bluff had joined their chums.

The latter did not seem any the worse for his long confinement; indeed, he was grinning as though the scare of his enemies over that flashlight had amused him.

“We’re only too willing to go.  I told you before that we didn’t mean to have any trouble with you, if we could help it; but if you start the ball rolling look out.”

“Yes,” said Will, on the heels of what Frank had said, “it’s a case of millions for defense, not one cent for tribute.”

“Good night, fellows, and thank you for the grub you gave me?” laughed Bluff, as he waved his hand mockingly toward the group.

Jerry had recovered his gun, and, in a bunch, the four chums walked away.  The others followed them menacingly for a short distance, but every time one of the two armed lads turned there was a sudden scattering.  When Will whirled around and elevated his camera they fell flat to the ground as though really alarmed.

“They’ve turned back,” announced Jerry, presently.