Paul?" demanded Jud.

"Oh! I only h-h-hope so!" came from Bluff.

"Wait till the time comes, and perhaps I'll help you give them a
much-needed lesson. We don't want to play the worm part, always,"
remarked Paul; "and now, boys, let's head for home."

"Ta-ta, sweet little meeting-house on the edge of the woods; I'll carry
fond memories of you as long as this suit of clothes lasts, I guess,"
said William, waving his hand mockingly backward toward the deserted
barn.

"Watch out for some of those Slavin fellows on the road. They may bombard
us from the woods with rocks!" warned Joe Clausin.

"Just let 'em try, that's all. We'll chase the stone thrower to a
standstill, and then he'll be sorry he wandered away from his happy home
this night!" Bobolink declared, ferociously.

So they walked along in detached groups, many eyes were on the alert, and
listening ears bent to catch some sign of a lurking foe.

Once or twice they heard signals being exchanged deep in the woods,
evidently by the scattered cohorts of Ted; but while valiant, the members
of the Fox Patrols were wise and prudent as well, copying the cautious
attributes of the wary animal after which their new organization had been
named.

They declined to explore the dense forest, seeking a foe that might only