“What d’ye mean upsetting me that way, Jerry Wallington?  Think just because your dad’s a big railroad man you can knock poor fellers around any old way?  I guess I’ve got some rights.  You might have killed me, tumbling that pile of boxes down, with me inside.  You ought to be made to pay fur it, that’s what,” grumbled the fellow, scowling vindictively, and yet not daring to assume the offensive while the four chums were present; for he had never tried conclusions with Frank, and was suspicious of the new boy in Centerville—­for the Langdons had lived there about a year, Frank’s father having purchased the bank of which he was now president.

“How could I know anybody was hiding up there?” demanded Jerry, in pretended ignorance, though his eyes twinkled with humor as he watched the bully limping around and still rubbing his knee.

“Ain’t I got a right to play hide-and-seek with my friends?  Who told you to stop just underneath, and talk about campin’ out up above the lumber docks?  Think you’re the whole team, do you?  Well, perhaps you won’t shout just so loud when you know me and some of my mates are going up in that region ourselves, to-morrow, to see old Bud Rabig, the trapper, and if we have any trouble with you sissies there’s bound to be a high old mix-up, see?” and he glared first at one and then at each of the others in turn.

The boys looked at one another in dismay, for it seemed as though some would-be joker had tossed a bucket of ice-cold water over them; this vague threat of Andy Lasher’s was not to be lightly dismissed as mere bluff, for whatever his reputation might be, the fellow had a way of keeping his word, especially when it concerned any sort of mischief.

Frank, however, laughed aloud.

“That sort of talk doesn’t cut any figure with us, Lasher.  If we go up to the head of the lake we’ll try and mind our own business, and advise all others to do the same, if they know what’s good for them.  We’re not out looking for trouble, but, if it comes along, you and your cronies will find that there are four fellows who know how to take care of themselves.  Got that, Andy?” he said sternly.

The bully looked at him fixedly for a moment, and then drawing back his short upper lip after a way he had, and which made his face resemble that of a snarling wolf, with fangs exposed, he remarked: 

“It makes me laugh to think of such a lot of tenderfeet in the woods.  Be careful not to shoot yourselves, kids.  Guns are mighty dangerous sometimes.  And just make up your minds that we ain’t agoing to be scared by big words.  The fellows that train with me have been up against hard knocks too often to knuckle down before a lot of bluster and brag.  Them two weeks’ll be the liveliest you ever knew, take my word for it.”

With his tongue in his cheek he scurried away, just in time to avoid the proprietor of the store, who now came bustling out to learn what all the racket might mean, and found our four boys busily replacing his pyramid of empty boxes.