appeared to see nothing.

"Here, what have you been doing to my friend?" demanded Dick,
crawling as if feebly over to where Darry lay. "Great Scott!
You haven't injured him, have you?"

Dick acted his part as well as Dave did, but the boss tramp was
not inclined to be nervous.

"No," he retorted shortly. "We haven't done much to either of
you young fellers not a quarter as much as we're going to do if
you don't both of you quit your nonsense soon. Help 'em up, now."

Dick allowed himself to be lifted to his feet and supported in
a standing position by one of the most powerful-looking of the
tramps. Darrin, however, continued to act as if he were almost
lifeless.

"Give him the water cure," ordered the boss tramp, in an undertone
to one of his confederates.

Going to the peddler's wagon the one so directed took down a pail.
He went off in the darkness, but soon came back with a pail of
water. Slipping up slyly, he dashed the water full in Darry's
face.

With a gasping cry of rage Dave Darrin started to spring to his
feet. Then, remembering his part, he sank back again to the ground.

"Raise him," directed the boss tramp. "He'll find his legs and