"Well, try your level best to show a brave front, Harry, no matter what happens. We've been in lots of tough places and, somehow, always seem to get out before the worst we've been expecting comes along. I'll try and talk him out of doing this cowardly thing. Sometimes I seem to be able to swing people around to my way of thinking, you know, Harry." "Yes, that's so, Ned, you nearly always can; but you're up against it this time, I'm afraid. He's only a big brute, and chances are he'll strike you in the mouth if you try and talk him out of doing a thing he wants to carry out. We certainly are in the worst fix of our lives right now." "Talk to me about the silver linin' of the cloud," burst out Jimmy, "I'd like to see what that means. Here we're in a black hole and the ladder's been took away. I'm feeling pretty punk myself; but c'n stand it if the rest of you do." "They always say it's darkest just before dawn, Jimmy," advised Ned, seeking to buoy up the spirits of his two chums more than that he could himself see any reason for hope. The giant, accompanied by a crowd of men and women, advanced toward the spot where the three scouts stood awaiting their coming, for the boys had scrambled to their feet, anxious to know the worst. "Peel off!" roared the bulky leader, with some pretty strong additions to the order that no doubt he fancied were apt to strike terror to the hearts of the trio of khaki-clad boys who had fallen into their hands. "Strip them ere jackets oft in a hurry, 'case we's agwine tuh warm yuh up some. Fear'd ye'd git cold in the night, was yuh? We'll fix it so't you won't need tuh worry 'bout feelin' the chill o' the night air. Quick now, git bare down tuh the waist, er we'll hev tuh help ye strip!" Ned did not say a word of protest. He realized then and there that such a thing would be on the same principle as waving a red flag in front of an enraged bull. He looked at Harry and Jimmy and then began to unbutton his faded khaki coat, while the impatient giant started to snap his quirt viciously close to their ears, as though he could hardly wait until the time came to use it on their shrinking flesh. They did not dare linger too long, and yet it was without any heart that the chums began to disrobe. Who could blame them for their hesitation and the beseeching looks they fastened on the red face of the big bully of the camp. But water falling on the rock would make as much impression as these looks seemed to do on Hy Adams. They were down to the last garment when Harry uttered a little cry. "Look, oh, look, Ned, who's coming into camp!" he whispered; but Jimmy must have also caught the words, for he immediately added: "Sure, it's little Amos and his poor maw; mebbe they know the camp's agoin' to be busted up and they got orders from the boss to come here, so's to travel along with the rest. But shucks! Little Amos and his maw can't help us any. They just come in time to see the circus--that's all!"