swered Fred, and leaped ashore with Songbird at his heels.
The call had come from a thicket about a hundred feet away, and in that direction dashed the two unsuspecting youths, never dreaming of the plan laid to trap them. As they ran into the thicket four persons came behind them, and in a trice each was thrown violently forward on the ground and held there.
"Wha—what does this mean?" gasped Fred, as soon as he could get his breath.
"It means that you are prisoners," came in the voice of Gasper Pold. "Keep quiet now, it will be best for you."
"Blindfold 'em and be quick about it," came in a low tone from one of the others of the party.
"Dan Baxter!" exclaimed Songbird, recognizing that voice. "Is it possible! I thought you died in the swamp!"
"Hang the luck!" muttered the former bully of Putnam Hall. "I didn't want them to know I was here."
By this time the two boys had had their hands tied behind them. Then they were allowed to rise.
"Don't you make a noise, if you value your lives," came from another of the men, and to their surprise they saw that it was Sack Todd,
