Thus urged, the two tramps closed in, and while one caught Tom by the arm, the second tried to pull his feet from under him. It was a fierce, but unequal struggle, and though the boy struck out right and left, inflicting not a little injury, in the end he found himself on his back, with Stumpy Nuggs sitting on his chest. "You rascals, let up," he gasped. "Do you mean to kill me?" "Lay still, or you'll catch it worse," growled Nuggs. "Where's dat rope, Longback?" A rope had been brought along, and it was quickly produced, and then Tom was rolled over and his hands were bound behind him. His legs were also bound together in such a fashion that he might walk but not run. "Now get up," ordered Dan Baxter, with a wicked scowl. Not caring to remain on the ground, Tom did so. He noted that the two men with Baxter were tramps, and he came to the conclusion that he had a hard crowd with whom to deal. "March!" went on Baxter, taking Tom by the shoulder. "March? Where to?" "You'll find out fast enough." "Suppose I refuse." "You had better not, Tom Rover. You know I'm not to be trifled with." "I am not afraid of you," answered Tom boldly. "You were always a bully, Dan Baxter, and a bully is a coward." "Is your name Baxter?" asked asked Stumpy Nuggs, curiously. "Never mind what it is," growled Baxter. "I used ter have a friend wot knowed a feller named Baxter," went on the tramp. "Me friend's name was Buddy Girk." "I know your friend," cried Tom. "He once stole my brother Dick's watch. He is this boy's father's tool, and both of them are now in jail in Albany for robbery." "Wot!" cried Nuggs, in astonishment. He turned to the other tramp. "Longback, I reckon we have struck an odd crowd, hey?" "Dat's wot," answered Longback. "But say, we didn't go through de young gent's pockets yet." "Wait until we are off the road," interrupted Dan Baxter. "Somebody may come along and make trouble for us." "Right ye are," answered Stumpy Nuggs. "Don't let's stay here anudder minit." With Baxter on one side of him, Nuggs on the other, and Longback bringing up the rear, Tom was forced to march along. Once he resisted, and received a punch in the side that took nearly all of the wind out of him. He started to cry for help, but his captors threatened if he did this that they would place a gag of dirty cloth in his mouth. In days gone by Baxter had often visited a deserted dwelling on the lake shore, and to this spot the party now directed their steps. In the dark their course was uncertain, and they made slow progress, so it was after three o'clock in the morning when the dilapidated building was reached. CHAPTER IX A DOSE OF TAR AND FEATHERS "Make some kind of a light--I can't see a thing," said Dan Baxter, as the little party came to a halt in front of a half tumbled down building. Stumpy Nuggs carried matches, and quickly lit a bit of candle which he produced from one of the pockets of his ragged attire.