"Don't you touch her!" shrilly screamed the boy. "Don't you put a hand on her!" He endeavored to jerk himself from the grip of the man who had seized him, but the strong hand held him fast. "Whatever is the use to jump around this yere way?" said the man. "We ain't a-hurting you none. Don't git so excited-like. Mebbe it's a right good thing we finds ye yere." "Who are they, Abe? Who are they?" whispered Felicia. "I dunno," confessed the boy, filled with regret and despair at his own carelessness in permitting the men to come upon them in such a manner while he was absorbed in his playing. "But they shan't hurt yer. I won't let um." "Mebbe you tells us what you're doing yere, you two kids," suggested one of the men. "We're jest lost," said Abe. "Only that?" laughed the man. "Well, that sure is nothing much. Perhaps if we don't find yer you stays lost. Where did yer get lost from?" "Oh, I know you won't hurt us!" said Felicia quickly. "Why should you? We can't hurt any one. My horse was frightened and ran away. Abe tried to catch him. That was how we got separated from Dick and the others." "Dick! Who is this yere Dick?" Before Abe could check her, Felicia answered. "Why, Dick Merriwell!" "Hey?" ejaculated one of the men. "Merriwell! Why, I sure opines that name is a heap familiar. Dick Merriwell! Mebbe you means Frank Merriwell?" "No! no! I mean Dick Merriwell, his brother." "His brother?" burst from both of the men. "Yes," said Felicia. "Then he has a brother, has he? Well, this is right interesting and no mistake." "You bet it is!" ejaculated the other. "Where is this yere Dick Merriwell, Hunchy?" It was the old hateful name which Abe detested, and his soul revolted against it. "Don't you call me Hunchy!" he shrilly exclaimed. "I won't be called Hunchy!" In his excitement he actually bristled at the ruffian. "Ho! ho!" laughed the other man. "What do yer think of that, partner? Why, he is going ter soak me one." "Ho! ho!" came hoarsely. "That's what he is. Don't let him hit yer hard, for he'll sure fix yer!" The one who had addressed Abe as "Hunchy" now removed his hat and made a profound bow. "I begs yer pardon, your royal highness," he said. "If I treads on the tail of yer coat any, I hopes you excuses me. I am not counting to rile you up any, for I reckon you might be a whole lot dangerous." Abe knew this was said in derision, but he muttered: "I won't have anybody calling me Hunchy no more. Don't you forget that!" Felicia was clinging to the cripple now, and he could feel her trembling. He put one of his long arms about her and sought to reassure her by a firm pressure. "If I hasn't offended your highness," said the man who had asked the question, "perhaps you tells me now where this Dick Merriwell is?" "Don't tell him, Abe!" whispered the girl. "They are bad men. I'm afraid of them." "I wist you could tell me," said the boy. "I'd like ter find him myself." "Then he is somewhere yereabouts?"