"Don't you touch me--don't you dare!" howled Job Haskers, in new alarm, and he backed away so hastily that he tripped over some of the camp outfit and went flat on his back. The accident was such a comical one that Dave and his chums laughed outright, and Tom Dillon and Abe Blower grinned broadly. Link Merwell reached down and assisted the former teacher to his feet. Job Haskers's face was sourness itself. "Stop that! Don't you dare to laugh at me!" he roared. "Don't you dare!" "We'll laugh as much as we please," answered Dave, boldly. "I--I guess we had better get out of here," whispered Link Merwell, nervously. "They--they might take it into their heads to harm us." "Do you think so?" asked Job Haskers. "All right, I--I am ready to go. But how are we to find our way back to the town?" he asked, helplessly. "We'll have to follow the back trail," answered Link Merwell. Being used to ranch life, this being in the open did not daunt him as it did the former teacher. "Come on, let us get our horses and be off!" the youth added. "It is getting too hot for us here!" CHAPTER XXI ON THE BACK TRAIL "Just you two wait a minute!" It was Tom Dillon who uttered the words, as he saw Link Merwell and Job Haskers turn to where their horses were tethered. "You bet they'll wait!" exploded Abe Blower, wrathfully. He stepped forward and seized Merwell by the arm. "What do you mean by playing such a trick as this on me?" "Le--let go of me!" cried the youth, in fear. "Let go. I--I--didn't I say it was only done in fun?" "Fun? You won't think it's fun when I git through with you!" "I--ahem! I think this whole matter can be settled amicably," put in Job Haskers, with an effort. "I am satisfied now that we made a--er--a mistake. But, as Merwell states, it was all done in a--er--a spirit of fun." "And now you want to sneak off--without even paying me for my trouble!" cried Abe Blower. "You said you'd come with me for nothing," returned Link Merwell, and his voice had almost a whine in it. "So I did, thinkin' you was Maurice Harrison's nevvy. If I had known you was an outsider I wouldn't have come at all. I've got my own affairs to 'tend to. But bein' as I did come, you're goin' to pay me for my time and trouble," went on the miner, sharply. "Don't you want 'em arrested, Abe?" put in Tom Dillon. "As I understand it, this here Merwell feller is wanted by the police as it is." "Oh, don't arrest me! Please don't do that!" cried Link Merwell. He turned to Dave and his chums. "Let me go, won't you? I--I didn't do anything. I didn't take a thing out of your suit-case," he added, to Roger. His manner was so humble and he seemed so full of terror, that the boys could not help feeling sorry for him, even though they realized that he was a criminal and should be in the hands of the law. "What do you think we ought to do, Dave?" whispered the senator's son, pulling our hero to one side. "That is up to you, Roger."