THE ROVER BOYS Boxed Set: 26 Illustrated Adventure Novels. Stratemeyer Edward

his feet from under him.

      It was a fierce, but unequal struggle, and though the boy struck out right and left, inflicting not a little injury, in the end he found himself on his back, with Stumpy Nuggs sitting on his chest.

      "You rascals, let up," he gasped. "Do you mean to kill me?"

      "Lay still, or you'll catch it worse," growled Nuggs. "Where's dat rope, Longback?"

      A rope had been brought along, and it was quickly produced, and then Tom was rolled over and his hands were bound behind him. His legs were also bound together in such a fashion that he might walk but not run.

      "Now get up," ordered Dan Baxter, with a wicked scowl.

      Not caring to remain on the ground, Tom did so. He noted that the two men with Baxter were tramps, and he came to the conclusion that he had a hard crowd with whom to deal.

      "March!" went on Baxter, taking Tom by the shoulder.

      "March? Where to?"

      "You'll find out fast enough."

      "Suppose I refuse."

      "You had better not, Tom Rover. You know I'm not to be trifled with."

      "I am not afraid of you," answered Tom boldly. "You were always a bully, Dan Baxter, and a bully is a coward."

      "Is your name Baxter?" asked asked Stumpy Nuggs, curiously.

      "Never mind what it is," growled Baxter.

      "I used ter have a friend wot knowed a feller named Baxter," went on the tramp. "Me friend's name was Buddy Girk."

      "I know your friend," cried Tom. "He once stole my brother Dick's watch. He is this boy's father's tool, and both of them are now in jail in Albany for robbery."

      "Wot!" cried Nuggs, in astonishment. He turned to the other tramp. "Longback, I reckon we have struck an odd crowd, hey?"

      "Dat's wot," answered Longback. "But say, we didn't go through de young gent's pockets yet."

      "Wait until we are off the road," interrupted Dan Baxter. "Somebody may come along and make trouble for us."

      "Right ye are," answered Stumpy Nuggs. "Don't let's stay here anudder minit."

      With Baxter on one side of him, Nuggs on the other, and Longback bringing up the rear, Tom was forced to march along. Once he resisted, and received a punch in the side that took nearly all of the wind out of him. He started to cry for help, but his captors threatened if he did this that they would place a gag of dirty cloth in his mouth.

      In days gone by Baxter had often visited a deserted dwelling on the lake shore, and to this spot the party now directed their steps. In the dark their course was uncertain, and they made slow progress, so it was after three o'clock in the morning when the dilapidated building was reached.

      CHAPTER IX

       A DOSE OF TAR AND FEATHERS

       Table of Contents

      "Make some kind of a light — I can't see a thing," said Dan Baxter, as the little party came to a halt in front of a half tumbled down building.

      Stumpy Nuggs carried matches, and quickly lit a bit of candle which he produced from one of the pockets of his ragged attire.

      They entered the dwelling, forcing Tom to accompany them. This done they tied the young cadet fast to an iron ring set in the huge old fashion fireplace.

      "Now we'll turn out his pockets," said Longback, and this was quickly done. To the tramps' chagrin Tom carried no watch, but had with him two dollars in money.

      "Now we'll take dat ring," said Nuggs, pointing to the article on Tom's little finger.

      "So I have fallen in with a lot of thieves, eh?" said the boy. "Well, if you want the ring you can fight for it."

      "Shut up!" roared Dan Baxter, and struck him across the mouth, causing Tom's under lip to bleed. The boy tried to retaliate, but his bonds held him fast.

      While one tramp held his hand the other possessed himself of the ring. The ring contained an opal of which Tom was very proud, and to part with the article made the young cadet feel pretty bad.

      "You will rue this night's work," he muttered. "I'll see you in prison for it."

      "Don't waste your breath in threatening," cried Baxter.

      "All right, Baxter, wait and see. I'll put you where your father is."

      The bully's face reddened. "Will you shut up, or do you want another crack on the mouth?"

      "It's only a coward who would strike a person when he is helpless."

      "Coward or not, I want you to keep a civil tongue in your head."

      "Perhaps you imagine we don't know who tried to wreck the stage," went on Tom pointedly.

      "Wreck a stage? I know nothing of such a thing."

      "You know all about it. And we'll prove it too — when you are under arrest."

      "I won't talk to you!" howled Baxter.

      "Come with me," he added to the tramps, and then the three quitted the building, leaving Torn to his reflections, which were dismal enough.

      "I'm in a pickle and no mistake," he murmured. "What will they do with me next?"

      Hour after hour went by and still Tom was left alone. In the meantime Baxter had held a long conversation with the tramps and had formed a compact with them, paying them the ten dollars as agreed.

      The sun was shining brightly when at last Dan Baxter re-entered the old building.

      "Getting hungry, I suppose," he remarked, with a wicked grin.

      "Not particularly so," answered Tom coldly. He was hungry, but he was not going to admit it.

      "I suppose you would like to have your liberty," went on the bully.

      "Don't ask superfluous questions, Baxter. Let us get down to business. Why did you make me a prisoner, and what are you going to do with me?"

      "I made you a prisoner because I felt like doing so," growled the big youth.

      "And what do you propose to do next?"

      "Teach you a lesson that you won't forget all your life, Tom Rover." "Thank you for nothing."

      "I haven't forgotten how you and your brothers handled me out in Africa — and here, too, for that matter."

      "You deserved what you got, Dan Baxter. Some persons would have had you sent to prison for your actions."

      "Bah! You don't know what you are talking about. What were you doing out so late last night?"

      "None of your business."

      "Were you over to the Stanhopes' place?"

      "Perhaps I was and perhaps I wasn't."

      "Don't get mulish. Remember that you are absolutely in my power."

      "And what if I was at the Stanhopes' place? Haven't I a perfect right to go there?"

      "Did you meet anybody there?"

      "Yes, I did. I met your particular friend, Josiah Crabtree."

      Baxter's face fell. "And what — that is what did you have to say to each other?"

      "Crabtree tried to rob the widow — and I believe you were outside waiting for him," Tom continued suddenly.

      "Nonsense."

      At this moment Stumpy Nuggs came in.

      "There's a man comin' dis way!" he said excitedly, "Wot shall we do?"

      "A man!" ejaculated Baxter, in alarm. "I'll go out and see if I know him."