Julie paused a moment, then called out loudly:
"Say, you two fugitives! Come out from there quietly and we won't drive you forth."
But not a sound was heard from behind the wall. After a few moments, Julie added: "All right! We'll have to burn down the hut. I'm sorry, but we've got to get you, or give up camping here."
The scouts were intensely interested in this farce, but Julie meant business. She turned to the Captain and said: "Make the scouts leave the hut before I pour this gasoline all over the log wall. If they remain here with lighted candles, the fumes of the gasoline will cause an explosion."
Julie grinned at the girls and placed a finger on her lips as a signal for absolute silence; then she continued:
"That's right, Captain; now you take that can of gasoline that stands by the door, and pour it all over those logs while I soak these--then run outside. I will wait, and the moment you are out I will throw a lighted taper at the wall. Instantly the flames will eat up the bark and begin to burn through. By that time those two men will be glad to crawl out and give themselves up."
Julie pointed at a pail of water that stood by the door, so the Captain picked it up. Then the scout began arranging the paper and kindlings in the fireplace. These she lit with a match, and when she found they were beginning to burn, she called out:
"Now! Let us throw the gasoline all over the wall! Ready!"
As Julie gave the word, Mrs. Vernon tossed the water over as much wall surface as possible, then ran from the hut. The smoke now began to pour from the fireplace and filled the room. The scouts had to remain outside to keep from choking. Julie was the last to leave, but she smiled with satisfaction when she saw the dense smoke quickly filling the hut. Then she closed the door.
"Have you enough wood on the fire to last this trick out?" asked Mrs. Vernon, anxiously.
"Piles of it! That's why it is smoking so furiously," replied Julie.
"Only a tiny spiral of smoke can be seen coming from the top of the chimney, so most of it must be escaping from the fireplace into the room," announced Joan.
Suddenly the scouts heard some one back of the hut wall cough. Then another louder cough. Soon two were coughing and strangling desperately, and the Captain patted Julie on the back approvingly.