"I--I didn't have anything to do with putting a log across any
road," mumbled the bully. "I--I've been off toward the creek."

"Have you?" asked Tom with a peculiar smile.

"I thought you might have been looking for the wrench you dropped
near the log. You should be more careful and so should Sam
Snedecker, who's hiding outside the bushes," went on our hero, for
he had caught sight of the form of Andy's crony. "I--I told him
not to do it!" exclaimed Sam as he came from his hiding place.

"Shut up!" exclaimed Andy desperately.

"Oh, I think I know your secret," continued the young inventor.
"You wanted to get even with me for outbidding you on the motor-
boat. You watched which road I took, and then, in your auto, you
came a shorter way, ahead of me. You hauled the log across the
foot of the hill, hoping, I suppose, that my machine would be
broken. But, let me tell you, it was a risky trick. Not only
might I have been killed, but so would whoever else who happened
to drive down the slope over the log, whether in a wagon or
automobile. Fortunately Eradicate discovered it in time and
warned me. I ought to have you arrested, but you're not worth it.
A good thrashing is what such sneaks as you deserve!"

"You haven't got any evidence against us," sneered Andy
confidently, his old bravado coming back.

"I have all I want," replied Tom. "You needn't worry. I'm not