"Come down here, and I'll give you the worst thrashing you ever had!" "Your intentions are very kind, but the inducement isn't sufficient." "If I hadn't fallen just as I did, I'd have had you by this time." "That's just what I thought when I put the stick between your legs," called out Charlie Davis from another tree. It may seem singular, but until then Tarbox had not understood how he came to fall. He had an idea that he had tripped over the root of a tree. "Did you do that?" he asked wrathfully, turning to the smaller boy. "Yes, I did." "If I could catch you, you wouldn't get out of this wood alive." "Then I'm glad you can't get me," said Charlie, looking unconcernedly down upon his stalwart enemy. "You're two of the worst boys I ever saw," proceeded the farmer, wrathfully. "And I'm sure you're the worst man I ever saw." "What's your name?" asked Tarbox, abruptly. "Charlie Davis; I'm sorry I haven't got my card with me, or I'd throw it down to you." "I'd like to have the bringing up of you." "All right! Perhaps I'll appoint you my guardian." "You're more impudent than the other one, though you ain't so big." "Are you comin' down?" he inquired of Robert. "Not at present." "I won't stir from here till you do, if I have to stay all night." This was not a cheerful reflection, for the two boys were expected to be present and ride in the evening, and their absence would be regretted, not only by the manager, but also by the public, with whom they were favorites. "I say, Rob," called out Charlie, "how fond he is of our company!" "So it seems!" responded Robert, who was quite cool but rather annoyed by the farmer's persistence. "I only wish Bruiser were alive!" said Tarbox. "Then I'd know what to do." "What would you do?" asked Charlie. "I'd leave him to guard you, and then I'd go home and get my gun." "What for?" "I'd soon bring you down if I had that," answered the farmer, grimly. "If that's what you would do I'm glad old Bruiser's kicked the bucket," said Charlie. "I never shall get such another dog!" said Tarbox, half to himself, in a mournful voice. "Nobody dared to go across my ground when he was alive." "Was that the dog that Anak killed?" asked Charlie. "Yes," answered Robert, briefly. "He was a vicious-looking brute and deserved to die." At that moment Tarbox chanced to notice the stick which had produced his downfall, and a new idea came to him. He picked it up, and breaking it in two seized one piece and flung it with all his force at Robert. The latter caught and flung it back, knocking off the farmer's hat. Tarbox was naturally incensed, and began again to hurl the missile, but anger disturbed his aim so that this time it went wide of the mark. "I say, Robert," said Charlie, "this is interesting." "I'm glad you find it so," answered Robert. "I can't say I enjoy it." "You may just as well come down and take your thrashing now," said Tarbox, "for you're sure to get it."