Crane suppressed a burst of incredulous laughter. “What sort of a mare’s nest is this?” he scoffed. “It vas a mare’s nest not,” snapped Carl; “it vas a gouger’s nest. I seen dot nest yesterday der voods in, but when it vas daylights dose gougers vill pite, undt I avay kept. Vhen it dark got I up crept undt der gougers caught. I haf them der pail in. Yah.” “Tell it to Sus-Sweeney,” jeered Springer. “Sweeney didt not know me,” answered Carl soberly, “undt so he couldt not tell it to me. You didt consist to know vot vas der pail in, undt now you haf out found.” “Who do yeou s’pose is goin’ to believe such ridiculous stuff?” demanded Crane. “I couldt not help him,” asserted Carl sadly, “uf it didt not peliefe you.” “Take off that strap. Take off the kiver and let us see.” “I vould not do dot uf one thousand tollars vould gif you to me!” excitedly cried the fat boy. “Money couldt not inducement me. Der minute dot cofer peen off took der gougers vould out pop.” “Aw, say, that’s silly. Yeou jest watch me take it off.” Duckelstein grabbed at Sile’s arm. “You vill avay let my gougers get!” he shouted frantically. “It vas not right vhen so much troubles has made me to catch them.” Grinning, Crane pushed the anxious lad away. “I’ll be keerful,” he promised. “I’ll jest unbuckle the strap and lift the kiver a bit, so we can take a peek without lettin’ the critters get aout.” “Eferypody get avay off!” shouted Carl, as Sile advanced upon the pail. “Uf one of dose gougers does out come, he vill chump at you. Uf one of dose gougers should pite you, you vill knew it.” Apparently very much alarmed himself, he backed behind the tent, round which he peered at Sile. “Somehow, Ben,” said Grant, speaking to Stone in a low tone, “I’ve got a notion that it may be a right good plan to keep at a safe distance. That Dutch boy doesn’t seem as sleepy as usual this morning.” Standing a rod or more from Crane, Piper and Springer eagerly watched the proceedings of removing the strap and opening the pail. On his knees, Sile performed this action, gently lifting one edge of the cover and leaning forward to peer through the crack. Suddenly something like a bullet seemed to leap forth from that opening, striking the inquisitive boy squarely between his eyes. Over upon his back went Crane, giving utterance to a yell of astonishment and pain. One of his feet, flung out, struck the pail, which upset, the cover flying off. Instantly a swarming, buzzing mass of angry hornets rose from the nest that rolled out of the pail. “Ow! Wow!” howled Crane, scrambling to his feet and frantically waving his arms around his head. “Jumpin’ Jehosaphat! Ow! Murder! Help! Confaound the——Ouch! Yeow!”