Messenger No. 48

hing the one who had attacked Jet, and all had a brief conve

talking he had an opportunity to gaze around the

of straw in one corner, which most likely h

fore they can get the best of me," he said grimly. "If things are going on at this rate, it would have be

r conversation, and were

y cane, and stood r

hree men halted a few yards away, and one of them said,

need of havin' trouble with you; but we're that hungry as to make a fight seem

ou mean by

to let you know

n't conc

sonny. You've got money an' we're broke, so

re, or I wouldn't be walking

a man an' show us

o that, for it's no

mistake. We've been put her

not a fool," Jet cried, angrily. "I shan't c

n, for we may have to treat you migh

hat I'm going to have something to say fi

won't do to have sich a cub around," the leader of the party said,

began in down

ttack a shower of stones were hurled against the shanty, and two c

dodging his head barely in time to escape a huge fragm

peaceable like," the leader cried, as he m

cking down from the bold stand he had tak

warrant a risk of life, and then again he was but

im from surrendering,

now they were so near that Jet could only find she

the fun up very long, for the boss is bound to come mighty soon, an' ther

d twice did Jet receive a severe blow on the body bef

er the barricade in order to take b

ead with full force, and the fello

but they prudently fell back a short dis

as you fancied," Jet cried. "Now haul off a

he gathered another armful of rocks; but before he could renew the attac

all get a tongue-lashing!" one of

der replied, but at the same time he dropped the

he was standing, but he heard what soun

f deviltry are y

ut a rat we've got

off more than can be chewed easily, an' then the jig will b

mighty short allowance, it stands us in hand to look out f

r there'll be something else needin' ca

r the tall man whom he had such good cause to remember was

ou've been doin' a lucky stroke of business without knowing it. Don't let

now?" one of th

too much for his own good, and

to fix that for you," w

in that kind of business, an' to hum

ob com

t the house b

u brough

we travel around the country

that than

ything u

shouldn't be

hall be plenty to drink. When you can get h

his footsteps told that he was walking rapidly a

ng it up I might have been half a mile from here before that villain came!" Jet

od cause

e men would let him slip through their fingers, and, with such an ince

as now on his feet, vowing vengeanc

seized a stout rail from a near-by fence. "He

he stood ready for the attack, and the words had hardly

came in contact with the leader's weapon, s

he third amused himself by slapping the help

Joe is after something to drink, an' we

bey the order, and in a twinkling Jet's arms were b

d not spoken a word, but h

a perfect description of them in case he succeeded in making his escape, and then t

more than a flea-bite alongside of the whalin' you'll get," the lead

ged to keep pace with the others. During nearly half an hour the party continued on at a rapid pace, turning

n a clearing in the woods, where was situated a rude log house of two stories,

would serve admirably as breast-works

ear of the main building, inside the circle of wood, and near the door were tied two savage look

ared to come very near while we were away," the leader of the party said griml

t as he entered the enclosure formed by the fuel, and was led toward the single door of which the

d him roughly into the house, and he stood in front of the short man who h