He was coming now to see the result of his cunning. No doubt he had heard
the tremendous rattle as the bulging barrel of stones started to roll
down the slope after being liberated; for even a deaf man could hardly
have missed that racket. Lantern in hand he was even now hobbling along,
chuckling in anticipation of what he would find in his trap.

Closer came the limping farmer. Paul saw now that he held a vicious black
whip in his right hand, while gripping a lighted lantern in the other.

Laughter in the distance told that the boys had all taken themselves off.
They could not suspect what a dire calamity had befallen their leader, or
a rescue party must have certainly been formed.

Another minute and Peleg had arrived at the fence, and bending over held
the lantern so that its light fell upon the figure of his captive.

"Gut ye, have I? Mebbe ye'll try to paint some critters of mine agin, an'
mebbe ye won't!" said the farmer, as he raised the ugly black whip which
he held, with the evident intention of bringing it down good and hard on
the helpless boy.




CHAPTER VIII

TURNING THE TABLES