"Luck no good now," replied the old man; "luck no good anywhere. Tell old man," said he, suddenly bending forward, "luck no good for him. Tell him look out," the old Indian went on. "Fire, all, everywhere. War! Three red moons! War! Men kill!" He swept his hand about his head, as if indulging in some occult warning. The boys looked at one another, and, taking hands, passed on. The Indian, without a further word, seated himself again on the log. A few steps further up the bank the twins glanced at a rough trap near the roots of a huge sumach-bush, and seeing that luck here was also against them, they skirted the bend and quickly crossed the old bridge back to the house. They stole up to bed through the kitchen entrance. A light was burning in their uncle's office. The three gentlemen were in there, and Uncle Nathan was putting his name to a big paper, which the others witnessed with their signatures. It was his will. * * * * * Early the next morning the Frothingham twins made their way to the summit of Tumble Ridge on a tour of inspection of their own. They looked down into the yawning mouth of the pit, but did not descend and could not see the mischief that the big blast had played with the mine that their uncle had reckoned his best bit of property. The Frothinghams' shaft was not in use, but George thought he heard the rumble of the Hewes' ore cars descending their side of the hill. So the boys walked over to the fence, climbed to the top and looked down the further slope, then, balancing themselves, they walked along the rail. Suddenly they stopped. There, only a short distance from them, leaning against the trunk of a stunted oak, was the hated Carter Hewes. He was looking at them fixedly. "Where's your black nurse?" he said, grinning. "I suppose you mean our body-servant, sir," said George, keeping his balance with an effort on the rickety top rail. The larger boy laughed. "You ought not to be out alone," he said. "We are able to take care of ourselves, and you, too, I'll warrant," said William, who also maintained his post of vantage with some difficulty. "I dare you to come over on our property," said Carter, moving toward them, menacingly. Whether the top rail slipped, or whether the challenge was too much for the young Frothingham blood is not to be told, but in an instant both boys were down upon the ground. Carter had removed his coat. "I'll fight you both," he said. William plucked George by the sleeve. "Me first," he whispered, removing his hat and turning up his sleeves. George stepped to one side, and in an instant the two boys were at it without another word. Some blows were exchanged, and then the combatants clinched and rolled upon the ground, first one on top, and then the other, scratching and striking with all their might. George danced about them, scarcely refraining from taking a hand himself, and shouting encouragingly.