“Maybe they’re from that farm back here,” he said, with a jerk of his head over the shoulder. “I believe there was a couple o’ boys up there.” “No, we’re not from any farm,” answered Harry. “We come from Lakeport.” “What have ye in them bags?” put in the tramp who had not yet spoken. “Nuts. We have been out nutting.” “Humph! Thought as how nuts was all gone by this time.” “We heard of a spot that hadn’t been visited,” said Joe. He looked at his brother significantly. “Guess we had better be moving on.” “Oh, don’t hurry yourselves, gents,” came quickly from the tramp with the red and tangled beard. “Come in an’ rest all yer please. We’re keepin’ open house to-day,” and he gave a low laugh. “Thank you, but we haven’t a great deal of time to spare,” said Harry. “Come, Joe,” he went on, and started to move toward the roadway once more. He had scarcely taken two steps when the tramp with the red beard caught him by the shoulder. “Don’t go,” he said pointedly. “Come in an’ warm up. We’ve got a bit o’ a fire in there.” “A fire?” queried Harry, not knowing what else to say. “Aren’t you afraid you’ll burn the barn down?” “Not much! Even if she went, the buildin’ ain’t worth much. Come on in.” The tramp had a firm grip on Harry’s arm by this time and now the other two got between Joe and the roadway. It must be confessed that the two lads were much dismayed. As already noted, they knew that folks in that neighborhood had been waylaid by tramps in the past, and they now felt that a similar experience was in store for them. How to get out of such a dilemma was a serious question. “We don’t want to stop with you,” said Joe, as sharply as he could, although his heart beat violently. “Let me pass, please.” “But we ain’t goin’ to let yer pass just yet, young feller,” said one of the tramps. “Come on in an’ be sociable.” “We don’t mean for to hurt ye!” put in another. “So don’t git scart. If ye belong down to Lakeport we’ll treat yer right.” “We don’t wish to stay, I tell you,” went on Joe. “Let me pass, do you hear?” “And let me go, too,” added Harry. He tried to twist himself loose but could not, for the tramp was strong and had a good clutch. “Peppery youngsters,” drawled the tramp with the red hair. “Got to teach ’em manners, I guess. Shove ’em into the barn, boys. There don’t seem to be nobuddy else around, an’ it looks like we had run up against a real good thing!” “Do you mean to say that you intend to rob us?” cried Joe, as he struggled to free himself from the man who had him by the collar. “Rob yer? Who said anything ’bout robbin’ yer? We’re honest men, we are! Come on inside, an’ behave yerself!” And with this Joe was shoved toward the barn door. He tried to struggle, but it was useless. Using brute force the tramps almost pitched him inside, and Harry followed in a similar manner. Then the tramp with the red beard set up the broken-down door before the opening and stood on guard with a club in his hand.