“I know it, and now we may be sent to the House of Correction for burning the barn,” replied Matt. “No danger of that,” added Lon. “Your father will not let you be sent to any such place; and I know mine won’t. They say money will do almost any thing.” “My father will not be willing to pay much money on my account.” “Yes, he will: he will pay all that is wanted to keep you out of the House of Correction,” added Lon. “I am only sorry because we lost the good time we should have had in New York while the money lasted; and, when we came home, our folks would be so glad to see us, that they wouldn’t have said a word.” “I don’t know about that; but every thing would have worked first-rate if it hadn’t been for Wade Brooks, confound him!” “Don’t you think we can get hold of that money again, Matt?” asked Lon in a whisper. “I don’t know: very likely I can. My father thinks Wade took it.” “Wade will be back in the boat some time to-day; and he may steal it a second time, you know,” added Lon, with a wink. “We must have that time in New York, anyhow.” “I’m willing, if we only get out of this scrape.” “We shall get out of this all right; but don’t you make any blunders this time, as you did before,” said the cautious Lon. “Don’t answer any questions till you have thought about it. Stick to it that we had nothing to do with the fire. Your father does not know that you were out of the house before the fire; and I’m sure mine didn’t. Say we did not come out till the fire woke us, and went to the boat after it was all over. They will not believe Wade’s story, if we only stick to our text, and you don’t put your foot into it again.” While these scamps were preparing for the worst, the trio in the other room were discussing the guilt of the boys. Capt. Trustleton called for the evidence that his boy had been concerned in setting the fire. Mr. Garlick had no evidence, except that he had horsewhipped the two boys, and Lon had threatened to get even with him. No one had seen the boys in the vicinity of the barn, either before or after the fire. “Do you intend to proceed against the boys on this testimony?” asked the captain rather sternly. “I have not said I should proceed against them.” “The boys both denied that they had any thing to do with the fire.” “Of course they would deny it,” replied the farmer. “You may question them; and, if there is any thing to implicate them, I shall be willing to do what is right. Before we call them in, there’s another question which needs a little discussion,” continued Capt. Trustleton. “What’s that?” asked Mr. Garlick curiously. “You whipped these boys most unmercifully,” replied the captain. “They had no business to burn my barn, if I did,” said the farmer. “That’s very true; but two wrongs do not make a right. If you had not flogged them, you would not have suspected them of burning your building; and if they did the deed,--which I don’t admit,--they did it because you whipped them.”