CHAPTER V

THE SECRET POWER


For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was
heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and
forks. Washington was a fine cook, and there was a plentiful
supply of just what the boys liked best.

When the meal was well under way, the dining room door opened,
and a strange figure entered. It was that of rather an aged man,
who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as
if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast. His eyes were
bright, however, in spite of his age.

"Andy Sudds!" exclaimed Jack. "I was wondering where you were."

"Well, snap my gunlock, if it isn't Jack Darrow!" exclaimed Andy.

"Any luck?" asked Mark, for he knew the old man must have been
hunting.

"And Mark, too!" went on the old hunter. "Well, this is a
surprise. No, I didn't have any luck--that is, what you could
call luck. There's been a weasel carrying off our chickens and
killing them, and I went out to shoot it."