But just wait until Jim and his friends get here.
They'll be able to set us all straight and there won't be any
need for doing any rough work like shooting."
"Dolph, we'd better shoot up the whole crowd, including the cheeky
young one, before Jim Ferrers and his crowd gits here," propose
one of the quartette.
"Jim Ferrers will be awfully displeased, you do," drawled Tom.
"Do you know Jim? He has a reputation, I believe, for being
rather sore on folks who shoot up his friends."
"I'll do it for you, anyway, kid!" growled one of the four, leveling
his rifle.
But their leader struck the weapon up angrily just before the
shot barked out.
"Who's having Fourth of July around here?" called a laughing voice
from some distance down the rising path at the rear of the quartette.
The four men turned quickly, but Tom had recognized joyfully
the tones of Harry Hazelton's voice.
"You keep out of here, stranger!" ordered one of the quartette
gruffly.
"Don't you do anything of the sort, Harry!" roared Reade's voice.
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