There was a slight scuffle at this. Evidently Lil Artha had attempted to put his suggestion into practice; but a ready hand had knocked the match out of his grasp just as he struck it. There was a sudden gleam of light, and then darkness again. "No, you don't, old fellow," said a voice that was now tinged with anger. "None of that funny business goes with us, does it, boys?" "Nixey, not this time," replied one. "Quit kidding, and make him be good," growled another, who plainly had tired of the game as far as it had gone and wanted to be on the move. "What's this mean?" demanded Lil Artha, just as though he could not as yet get the true facts through his fuddled brain. "The bird that can sing and won't, must be made to sing, they say," growled the fellow who seemed to take the lead in the abduction game. "Grab him, boys, and jam him in the car; that's the only way!" burst out a second of the quartette. "Hold on here, do you know what this means?" asked the one who was being threatened in this fashion. "It's an outrage to stop me like this. And when you say you're from Hickory Ridge, you lie, that's what! You're a bunch of Fairfield cowards, and you're only trying to make me break the rules of the game so that I can't win! I'm on to your dodge, and don't you forget it!" A series of scornful laughs greeted these words. Evidently the hold-up fellows felt so very sure that they had things in their hands that they could afford to delay a little; just as the cat, not feeling particularly hungry, will play with the mouse that has been maimed. "Listen to him, will you?" jeered one. "He's on, all right, fellows," exclaimed another; "he sees through the dodge, does Lil Artha. Oh, ain't it a great thing to be a scout, and use your brains! But all the same, we don't expect to let our big friend have his way, do we, boys?" Of course they were clustered around the Hickory Ridge scout, cutting off all avenues of escape, even if Lil Artha should conceive the idea of running away. "Not much, we don't," echoed another. "Keep your hands off me now, I warn you all!" shouted the tall boy, aggressively; but in reality his words were intended to inform Elmer, Toby and Nat just how far events had progressed, so that they might arrange their movements accordingly. "Are you going to get aboard?" demanded the leader, harshly. "You mean of my own free will?" asked Lil Artha, fighting for a little time, so that he could make sure of having his chums come up for the crisis. "Yes, climb in, Lil Artha!" "I refuse; and defy the whole bunch of you. I'm going to stick to the rules of the game; and you can't make me change my mind. Bah!" the tall scout shouted. "Tackle him, and if he fights back, don't be too gentle with the big cub. He's going to be carried five miles and more, whether he wants to go or not!"