"Well, Ogden," said Prodger, when he came in. "That bay team has earned eight dollars and fifty cents to-day. I'm glad you brought them over. How long are you going to be in town?" "I can't tell," said Jack. "I'm staying at Murdoch's." "The editor's? He's a good fellow, but the _Eagle_ is slow. All dry fodder. No vinegar. No pickles. He needs waking up. Tell him about Link's bridge!" That was a good beginning, and Jack soon knew just how high the water had risen in the creek at Mertonville; how high it had ever risen before; how many logs had been saved; how near Sam Hutchins and three other men came to being carried over the dam; and what people talked about doing to prevent another flood, and other matters of interest. Then he went among the stable-men, who had been driving all day, and they gave him a number of items. Jack relied mainly upon his memory, but he soon gathered such a budget of facts that he had to go to the public reading-room and work a while with pencil and paper, for fear of forgetting his treasures. Out he went again, and it was curious how he managed to slip in among knots of idlers, and set them to talking, and make them tell all they knew. "I'm getting the news," he said to himself; "only there isn't much worth the time." After a few moments he exclaimed, "This is the darkest, meanest part of all Mertonville!" It was the oldest part of the village, near the canal and the railway station, and many of the houses were dilapidated. Jack was thinking that Mary might write something about improving such a neglected, squalid quarter, when he heard a shriek from the door of a house near by. "Robbers!--thieves!--fire!--murder!--rob-bers!--villains!" It was the voice of a woman, and had a crack in it that made it sound as if two voices were trying to choke each other. "Robbers!" shouted Jack springing forward, just as two very short men dashed through the gate and disappeared in the darkness. If they were robbers they were likely to get away, for they ran well. Jack Ogden did not run very far. He heard other footsteps. There were people coming from the opposite direction, but he paid no attention to them, until just as he was passing the gate. Then he felt a hand on his left shoulder, and another hand on his right shoulder, and suddenly he found himself lying flat on his back upon the sidewalk. "Hold him, boys!" "We've got him!" "Hold him down!" "Tie him! We needn't gag him. Tie him tight! We've got him!" There were no less than four men, and two held his legs, while the other two pinioned his arms, all the while threatening him with terrible things if he resisted. It was in vain to struggle, and every time he tried to speak they silenced him. Besides, he was too much astonished to talk easily, and all the while an unceasing torrent of abuse was poured upon him, over the gate, by the voice that had given the alarm.