If they did, it would be an easy matter to catch them.

But they all go together, and half of them keep watch, and the rest bag the plunder; and they move around so still that even the dogs don't hear them." "I should think you fellows here in the village would take the matter into your own hands," said Charles.
"What do you mean ?" inquired his companions.
"Why don't you club together, and every time you see one of the Hillers, go to work and thrash him like blazes?
I guess, after you had half-killed two or three of them, they would learn to let things alone." "I guess they would, too," said one of the boys.
"Suppose we get up a company of fifteen or twenty fellows," resumed Charles, "and see how it works.

I'll bet my eyes that, after we've whipped half a dozen of them, they won't dare to show their faces in the village again." "That's the way to do it," said one of the boys.

"I'll join the company, for one." The others readily fell in with Charles's proposal, and they spent some time talking it over and telling what they intended to do when they could catch the Hillers, when one of the boys suddenly exclaimed, "I think, after all, that we shall have some trouble in carrying out our plans.

Although there are plenty of fellows in the village who would be glad to join the company, there are some who must not know any thing about it, or the fat will all be in the fire." "Who are they ?" demanded Charles.
"Why, there are Frank Nelson, and George and Harry Butler, and Bill Johnson, and a dozen others, who could knock the whole thing into a cocked hat, in less than no time." "Could they?
I'd just like to see them try it on," said Charles, with a confident air.