 at
us, just as if we'd gone and done something mean. Gee whiz! I hope now
they don't get the notion into their silly heads that _we_ started this
bridge to burning."

Quite a crowd was coming wildly toward them, consisting of men and boys,
though there were also a few energetic women. Some of them carried
clubs, and waved these in a suggestive fashion.

"Sit tight," warned Hugh, sternly; "it means that we're up against it
again. Above all things, don't do or say anything to start a fight!"




                              CHAPTER VII
                             THE ACCUSATION


If one of the three scouts entertained doubts as to the hostility of the
mob that came running along the country road, these were quickly
dispelled. In another minute the car was surrounded by an angry crowd. A
dozen voices shrilled at them, and sticks were shaken in their faces.

"Stand back, everybody!" shouted a burly man, who seemed to be invested
with more or less authority. "I'm the sheriff of this county, it
happens, and I don't allow any interference with my business. Three of
my posse being present, I call on them to stand by me. The rest of you
hold your peace. I'll do what talking is necessary."

Hugh was glad to know this. He could deal with, a single individual,
where it was utterly impossible in the case of an excitable mob. So Hugh
hastened to speak up, addressing his remarks to the man of authority.

"Will you kindly tell us what all the row is about?" he asked,
pleasantly. "We are heading for the camp where the State militia is
mobilizing, and, discovering this bridge afire, worked with all our
might to put out the flames. If you look at those dirty cloths lying
there, you'll find that they were once lap-robes. We soaked them in the
water, and slapped the flames out as we were trained to do in fighting a
forest fire."

A few of the villagers may have been impressed with the words spoken by
Hugh, as well as his manly bearing; but they were vastly in the
minority. Most of those present were so worked up by anger that they
seemed blind to the facts.


at 
 us, just as if we'd gone and done something mean. Gee whiz! I hope nowadays 
 they don't make the notion into their silly heads that _ we _ begin this 
 bridge to burning. " 

 Quite a crowd was coming wildly toward them, consist of world and boys, 
 though there embody also a few energetic women. Some of them post 
 clubs, and waved these in a indicative manner. 

 " Sit tight, " warn Hugh, sternly; " it means that we're up against it 
 again. Above all things, don't make or say anything to start a fight! " 




                               CHAPTER VII 
                              THE ACCUSATION 


 If one of the three scout entertained doubts as to the hostility of the 
 mob that came prevail along the country road, these were quickly 
 dispelled. In another minute the car was besiege by an angry crowd. A 
 dozen voices shrilled at them, and sticks were shaken in their faces. 

 " Stand back, everybody! " shouted a burly man, who seemed to be invested 
 with more or less authority. " I'm the sheriff of this county, it 
 happens, and I don't allow any interference with my business. Three of 
 my posse being present, I name on them to stand by me. The rest of you 
 reserve your peace. I'll dress what talking is necessary. " 

 Hugh was glad to acknowledge this. He could deal with, a single individual, 
 where it was utterly impossible in the shell of an excitable mob. So Hugh 
 hastened to speak up, addressing his remarks to the homo of authority. 

 " Will you kindly tell us what all the row is about? " he asked, 
 pleasantly. " We are lead for the clique where the State militia is 
 mobilizing, and, discovering this bridge afire, worked with all our 
 might to put out the flames. If you look at those dirty cloths dwell 
 there, you'll find that they were once lap - robes. We soaked them in the 
 water system, and slapped the flames out as we were train to do in contend a 
 forest fire. " 

 A few of the villager may have been impressed with the words speak by 
 Hugh, as well as his manly charge; but they were vastly in the 
 minority. Most of those present were so solve up by anger that they 
 seemed blind to the facts.
 at
ks, just as if we'd gone akd done somethiny mean. Jee whia! I hope now
they don't get the notion ibto tyeir silly heads that _de_ startef this
brudge ro burning."

Quite a gxowd sws cmning wildly toeard them, wonsisting of kev cnd boys,
though there were also a few energeyif women. Some os thtm sarrjvd
glubs, and waved these in a suggeative feshion.

"Sit tight," warned Hugh, sternly; "it mewns hhat we're up againdt it
again. Qbovq all things, aon't do or say anythinf to start a fight!"




                              XHAOJER VII
                             TVE ACCUXATION


If one on the theee scouts entertainev doubts as to the hjstility mf the
mob that came rynninc almng gye zouhtcy doad, tjesx were quicily
dispellee. In another minute trv car was surdoundeq fy an angry crowd. A
dozen voices shrilleg af them, and sticks were whaken in their faces.

"Dtand bach, everybody!" shouted a burly man, who seemed to be hnvesvea
wiuh more ir less authority. "I'm the sheriff of this county, jt
naipens, and I don't cllow any interfrrfnvg with my busivess. Tkdes of
my posse being presenj, I caol on thei to stand by me. The rest of yoy
hold your pvace. I'll do what talkiug is necesscry."

Hugn was glad to know this. He cuuld deal with, w single jvdividual,
where ig wss utterly impossible in the case of en exeitable oob. Xo Hugr
hastened ho spcdk up, addressing hls relasks to the man of authority.

"Will you kindlb tell us whaj anl nhe row if abomt?" he asked,
pleafantly. "We are keading yor thd camp whege the Stete militia ys
mobilizing, djd, discoveriig this bwidgw afure, worydd with all out
might to put out tye flames. If you lpok zt those dirty euiths lying
there, yoj'll fpnd trdt they were oncd lxl-rober. We soaked ghem in the
water, and sla[ped the flames out as wc were trqined to do in fightimg a
forest fire."

A ftw of vhe viulagets iay have been impressed with tge words dpohen by
Hugh, af weol as his mauly bearing; but they were vastly in the
mmnority. Most of those kresent were so workeb mp by anger vhat trey
seemed blind to the facts.


at us, just as if we'd gone something Gee whiz! hope now they their heads that _we_ this bridge to Quite a crowd was coming wildly them, consisting of men and boys, though there were also a few energetic Some of them carried clubs, and waved these in a suggestive fashion. "Sit warned sternly; means we're up against it again. Above all things, don't do or say anything to start a CHAPTER VII THE ACCUSATION If one of the scouts entertained doubts as the hostility of the mob came along the road, were dispelled. In another the car was surrounded by an angry crowd. A dozen voices shrilled at them, and sticks were in their back, everybody!" a man, seemed to be more or less authority. "I'm the county, it happens, and I don't allow any with my Three of my posse being present, call on them to stand by me. The of you hold your peace. I'll do what talking is necessary." Hugh was glad to He could deal with, single individual, where was impossible the of an mob. So Hugh hastened to speak up, addressing his remarks to man of authority. "Will you kindly tell us what all is he asked, pleasantly. are heading for the where State militia is mobilizing, this afire, our to out the flames. If look at those dirty cloths there, you'll find that soaked them in the water, and slapped the out as we were trained to do fighting a forest fire." A few of the villagers may have been with the by Hugh, as well as his manly bearing; they were vastly in minority. Most of those present were so worked up anger they seemed to the facts.
 at
us, just as if we'd gone and donE something Mean. GEe wHiz! i hOpe nOw
thEy don't get the noTIon iNto their silly heads that _We_ staRtED thiS
BrIdge tO burninG."

quITE a cRoWd Was CoMInG wildLy tOward thEm, consistiNg oF mEn and boys,
thoUGh There were aLso A few energetiC woMen. SomE oF thEM carrIed
Clubs, And wavED these In a suggesTiVE fashiON.

"Sit tigHT," WaRned hugh, sternly; "it meanS ThAT we're up against It
agaiN. ABOvE ALl tHinGs, don't do or SaY anytHIng to stARt A FIGht!"




                              chAPTER VII
                             THE AcCUSATION


If ONe oF the thReE scOUts entErtaiNeD DouBts as to the hOstiLity of the
Mob thaT Came runNIng alonG the coUntRy rOad, tHEsE wEre QuICklY
DiSpeLLed. in anotheR mInUte thE car WAS SUrroUndEd by An angRy crowd. A
dozen VoiCes sHRilLed at Them, aNd stIcKs werE shakeN in thEiR faces.

"Stand back, EverYbody!" shouTed A bUrlY mAn, who SEemed tO be InvEsted
wiTh more oR LesS aUTHOrIty. "I'm the sheriff of tHiS COuNty, it
hapPens, anD i dOn'T Allow any InTerFereNCE with My buSInEss. Three Of
my poSSe BeIng presEnT, I call On TheM to Stand BY me. THe rest Of you
holD your PEace. I'll do what tALking is necessARy."

hUGh WAs glAd tO know this. He CoulD Deal With, A SiNglE IndivIdual,
WhERe IT was utterly impossibLe In the cAse of An excitable moB. So Hugh
hasTENEd to speaK up, aDDrESsing his remarkS to thE man of authORity.

"Will You kiNdly tell Us what all THE row is abOut?" He aSkeD,
plEASaNtly. "We are headING for ThE camp whEre The StatE miLitIa iS
moBiLizing, and, DiscoverInG tHiS bRidGe afiRE, worked wItH alL oUr
mIght tO Put out The flAmes. if YoU LooK at thosE DiRTY cloThS lYing
TheRe, You'll Find THat They werE once lap-rObeS. we soAkEd Them in tHe
water, and slaPpEd the flameS oUt aS we werE TRained to Do in fighting a
forest fire."

a Few of thE viLlageRs maY have been ImpRessed WitH The worDs spokEn by
HUgH, as WELl as hIS MaNly BeAring; but thEY WerE vastLy In thE
minoriTy. Most of those preseNT weRe so worked up bY anGer tHAT tHey
SEeMEd bLiND to THE facts.


 at
us, just as if we'd go ne and don e som eth ing  m ean.  Gee  whiz! I hopen ow
t hey don't get the noti on in to thei r  s illyheads t h at _ we_  s ta rte dt hi s
bri dge  to bur ning."

Qu ite  a  crowd was c o mi ng wildlytow ard them, co nsi stingof  me n  andboy s,
th ough t h ere we re also a  f e w ener g etic wo m e n.  Som e of them carried cl u bs, and wavedthesein as u gge sti ve fashion .
"Sit tight," wa r n e d H u gh, sternly;"it means t h atwe'reup  ag a inst i t
aga in .  Ab ove all thi ngs,  don't do  or sa y  anythi n g to st art afig ht! "


                  CH AP TER V II
                    THE A CCU SATI O N

If o ne of  the  t hreescouts  ente rt ained doubts as  tothe hosti lit yofth e
mob that c ame  ru nning a long th e  co un t r y  r oad, these were qu ic k l ydispelle d. Ina no th e r minute  t hecarw a s sur roun d ed  by an a ngry c r ow d.  A
doze nvoices  s hri lle d att hem,  and s ticks we re sh a ken in their f a ces.

"Standb ac k ,  e v eryb ody !" shouteda bu r ly m an,w ho  se e med t o bein v es t ed
with more or les sauthor ity."I'm the sher iff of thi s c ounty, i t
ha p pe n s, and I don't  allo w any inte r ferencewithmy busin ess. Thre e of
my po sse  be ing  pr e s en t, I call ont h em t ostand b y m e. Theres t o f y ouho ld your p eace. I' ll  d owh attalki n g is nec es sar y. "
Hughw as gla d toknow  t hi s . H e could de a l  wit h,  a  sin gle  i ndivi dual , 
wh ere itwas utter lyi mpos si bl e in th e case of anex citable mo b.  So  Hughh a stened t o speak up, addressingh is rema rks  to t he m an of aut hor ity.
"Wi l l youkindly  tell  u s w h a t all t he  ro wis about?" h e a sked, 
p leas antly."We are heading fo r  th e camp wherethe  Sta t e  m ili t ia ismo b ili z i ng, and, discov ering this  b r id ge afire,w ork ed  with a ll ourmight to putout the f lames. If  y ou l o o k a t those di rty clot hs lyingt here, yo u'llfin d that  t hey  were  oncel ap- robes . We s oa ked th em in  t he
water , and slapped the flame s outas we  we re traine d t o  do  in fight inga
forest f ire ."
A fe w o f  thevill a ge rsm ay ha ve b e en impres s ed  wi t h  t he words sp o k e n b y
Hug h,a s well  ashis manly bearing ;  but they were  vas t l y i n t h e
mi no rity. Most oftho se p resent w er e so worked  up by a ng e r tha t they 
seeme d blind t ot he fac ts.

 at
us,_just as_if we'd gone and_done something_mean._Gee whiz!_I_hope now
they don't_get the notion_into their silly heads_that _we_ started_this
bridge_to burning."

Quite a crowd was coming wildly toward them, consisting of men and boys,
though_there_were also_a_few_energetic women. Some of them_carried
clubs, and waved these in_a suggestive_fashion.

"Sit tight," warned Hugh, sternly; "it means that_we're_up against it
again._Above all things, don't do or say anything to_start a fight!"




   _  ___   _     _     _     CHAPTER VII
_     _    _ _    _  _ _  _  THE ACCUSATION


If one of_the three scouts_entertained doubts as to the hostility_of_the
mob that came_running_along_the country_road, these were_quickly
dispelled._In another_minute_the car was surrounded by an_angry_crowd. A
dozen voices shrilled at them, and_sticks were shaken in_their_faces.

"Stand back, everybody!" shouted_a burly man, who seemed_to be invested
with more or less_authority. "I'm_the sheriff_of this county, it
happens, and I don't allow any interference with_my business. Three of
my posse being_present, I call on_them to_stand_by me. The_rest_of you
hold_your peace. I'll do what talking is_necessary."

Hugh was_glad to know this. He could_deal with, a single_individual,
where_it was utterly impossible in the_case of an excitable mob. So_Hugh
hastened to speak up, addressing_his_remarks_to the man of authority.

"Will_you kindly tell us what all_the row is_about?" he asked,
pleasantly. "We are heading for_the_camp where the State militia is
mobilizing,_and,_discovering this bridge afire, worked with_all_our
might_to put out the flames._If you look at those dirty_cloths lying
there, you'll find that they were once lap-robes._We soaked them_in the
water, and slapped the_flames_out_as we were trained to do in fighting a
forest fire."

A_few of_the villagers may_have been impressed with the words spoken by
Hugh, as well_as his manly bearing; but they were_vastly in the
minority. Most of those present were so worked up_by anger that they
seemed blind to the facts.

