The board fence was not a very tight one, and as in passing the place where they sat he was but a short distance from them, he heard some words which made him stop. “The long-legged fellow is always keeping to himself,” were the words that he heard. Now, as Chap was pre-eminently a long-legged fellow, this remark instantly recalled to Adam’s mind the captain of The Rolling Stone, and this suggestion was made stronger by the fact that Adam had noticed that Chap was very fond of separating himself from the company, and doing something on his own account. If these men were talking about Chap, it could bode no good to that young man, and Adam wanted to hear what should be said. So he stopped. “If I can git a hold of him,” was the next remark, “I’ll pay him off square.” “Yes,” said the other one, “and I’d like to pay off that no-account sea-rat. If it hadn’t been for him we’d ’a’ had our guns.” “That’s so,” said the other; “but it won’t do to tackle the whole lot of ’em. If we can git hold of the feller that knocked us into the water and fired at me, we can give him his share and the sailor’s too.” “I’m bound to bag some kind of game,” said the other, “and he suits me better than any. What we’ve got to do is to keep a sharp eye on him and we’re pretty sure to git a chance. The boat don’t start till after dark.” Adam did not care to hear any more. It was plain enough that the two men intended to be revenged on Chap, and, as usually happens, they were the more determined on vengeance because they had deserved all they had suffered. The point now was, what could he do to prevent this piece of rascality? for something must be done instantly, and the important thing was to warn Chap. If the boys could be kept together until they went on board the steamboat, there would be no further trouble, for he was certain that the two rascals did not intend to take passage on the Von Glode. Having settled these points in his mind, he set off for the house of the stately gentleman, which was on the main street of the town. [Illustration] CHAPTER XXIX. HOW ADAM WAS BAGGED. When Adam reached the house, the family had just sat down to supper, and that meal had been prepared for him in another room. He did not think it necessary to disturb the little company. He asked one of the servants to give him notice as soon as the supper should be over, and then he sat down to his own meal. Before very long he heard the sound of chairs pushed back from the table, and then the colored woman informed him that “the folks had done finished.” Instantly Adam arose and hurried to the front of the house. There upon the porch he saw Phil and Phœnix, and calling them to him, he hurriedly asked where Chap was. “Oh,” said Phœnix, “it don’t take him long to eat. He got through before any of us, and asked to be excused. I suppose there is something in the town that he wants to investigate.” Adam almost turned pale when he heard this.