“Can’t we stay here?” blurted out Giant.

“Stay here?  Not much!  You’ll get out just as fast as you can pack up!”

At this announcement the hearts of the boys fell instantly.  All thought of the labor they had put on the cabin and the surroundings.

“This is too bad!” cried Whopper.  “See here, Mr. Felps, can’t we stay if we pay you?”

“No, sir!” was the first answer.  Andrew Felps looked at Snap, coldly.  “You can go home and tell your father I sent you.”

The remark made Snap exceedingly angry and for the moment he lost his temper.

“You are more than mean!” he cried.  “We have worked hard to fit up this spot, as you can see.  But your meanness is nothing but what I should expect from one who would act as you did about that Spur Road tract of lumber.”

“Shut up, you imp!” snarled Andrew Felps, growing red in the face.  I have my rights, as you’ll soon learn.  Pack up your duds and get out at once!”

“Well, you are a gentleman!” cried Shep, also growing angry.  “But I’ve heard about you before—–­down to Fairview.  Well, we’ll go.”

“Yes, and mighty quick, too!” roared Andrew Felps, and rushing forward he kicked at the campfire with his foot and sent one of the frying-pans whirling into the bushes.

“I wouldn’t be so hard on the youngsters, Andy,” said one of the men, in a low tone.

“Oh, I know them, Sam,” was Andrew Felps’s answer.  “That Dodge’s father has been trying to get the best of me for years.  Do you suppose I am going to give his cub any leeway?  Not much!”

Some bitter words followed between the boys and the unreasonable timber dealer, and then the young hunters began to pack up and put their belongings in the rowboat.

“Oh, but wouldn’t I like to get square with him!” muttered Whopper, as the work went on.

“Maybe we’ll get a chance to square up some day,” answered Shep.  “I think he is more than mean.”

“Here, leave that cabin alone!” came from Andrew Felps, as Snap began to knock down the front end with the ax.

“I may as well take it down, as you don’t want it,” said the boy.

“You leave it alone, I say.”

“Maybe you want to use it?” sneered the youth.

“If so, who is going to stop me?  It was built out of my timber, don’t forget that, smarty.”

“Perhaps you want to steal our outfit,” cried Giant, who was boiling with suppressed rage.

“Say another word, kid, and I’ll throw you into the lake!” roared Andrew Felps.

He came at Giant so threateningly that the small boy had to retreat.  At last the things were stowed on the rowboat and the four young hunters boarded the craft.

“Don’t you dare to come back here!” cried Andrew Felps.

“Thank you, I like to pick my company!” returned Whopper.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I like to associate with a gentleman.”