“Well, read it to him and his precious brood,” snapped the ’squire. CHAPTER XV. DEFYING A TIGER. “It is a notice for you and your crowd to leave the town within twenty-four hours,” replied the man addressed, pointing to the paper he had just helped affix to the stake. “And it is signed by these gentlemen, who are two of the selectmen of the town,” added ’Squire Hardy, triumphantly. “Now I guess you’ll get. If you don’t the worst’ll be your own. We’ll show you that New York can’t dump her slums here.” Rob offered no reply, and without further words the three men rode away, leaving a frightened group behind them. “Oh, Rob!” cried Mrs. Bayne, “what shall we do? what shall we do?” “Oh, why did we ever leave the city?” moaned Aunt Vinnie. “Why weren’t we satisfied with what we had?” “Aunt Vinnie,” said Joe, stoutly, “I wouldn’t go back to the city for all it holds. They can’t kill us, and we’ll get our living here somehow, won’t we, Rob?” “To be sure we will, Joe. Have courage, mother. I wish I knew where Chick and Ruddy are.” “What shall we do?” moaned Aunt Vinnie. “This terrible country will be the death of us.” While Rob was more concerned over the outcome of this last movement on the part of his enemy, he tried to appear cheerful, saying: “They will not touch us for at least another day, and sometimes great things happen in twenty-four hours. Just now I am more anxious about Chick and Ruddy. I am afraid something has happened to ’em. I must go to the village again.” “Let Larry go with you,” said Joe. “You need him here more than I do. Never fear for me, Joe. I had hoped we might have got a better house to stop in before night, but the deacon being sick has put all of us back. But as soon as he is well we shall get ahead in shining shape.” With these hopeful words Rob started toward Basinburg village to find Chick and Ruddy if possible. Knowing that they had intended to come home by the east road he followed that way, and so rapidly did he walk--it being all down grade going that way--that in the course of half an hour he was nearly down to the village. He had been disappointed in not meeting the boys, as he had hoped, and becoming more alarmed than ever over their strange non-appearance, he kept on toward the village. Presently the houses on the distant hillside could be seen, and he came in sight of the little collection forming the nucleus of Basinburg, Captain Jarvis’ store, where the post office was kept, forming the most conspicuous building. Quite a crowd had gathered about this place, and the men seemed to be discussing in an excited manner some topic of conversation. Fearless of any harm to himself, Rob boldly approached the group, with his eyes and ears open for whatever might happen. At first no one noticed him, so that he had got almost into the midst of the crowd before the friend of ’Squire Hardy, called Trask, exclaimed: