"Phew, that was warm work, Dick!" said Tom, wiping his perspiring face
with his handkerchief.

"Yes, so it was, Tom," replied his brother. "But I believe that we
made it warmer for Zeke and his gang than they did for us."

"Yes, I think we did," with a chuckle. "Say, Dick, they are better
runners than fighters, aren't they!"

"I think they are, Tom. They did some lively sprinting, just now, at
any rate."

"I guess they won't be likely to attack us again, soon."

"Hardly."

Dick and Tom now resumed their journey homeward, and reached there
about half an hour later. It was still light enough to see their
father at work in the backyard, as they entered the front gate. They
ran around the house at the top of their speed, to halt a few moments
later in front of their father.

"They did it, father!" exclaimed Tom, pantingly. "They adopted and
signed the Declaration of Independence."

"Say you so, my son?" exclaimed Mr. Dare joyously. "Well, heaven be
praised! I am glad, my sons; yes, very, very glad! It means much to
everybody, and to young people like yourselves more than to older
ones, for you have practically the whole of your lives before you,
while we older people have already lived the greater portion of the