The rumor of the threatened
attack on the spread was known to all the nine now.
"I rather guess they'll have all the trouble they want before they play
any tricks on us," said Bart, as he surveyed the defenses.
"Can they break in the doors, in case any of them get past the traps?"
asked Ned.
"I don't believe so," replied Fenn. "I've put extra hooks and bolts on,
and there are heavy bars to the big front and rear doors."
Saturday evening the materials for the spread were duly delivered at the
barn. Half a dozen boys volunteered as guards. It was arranged that the
members of the nine and their friends, numbering in all about
twenty-five, should come in through the cow stable door.
The guards were soon busy arranging the improvised tables, storing the
food away in places where, in case the conspirators did manage to get in,
they would have hard work to find it. Several were engaged in getting
lanterns ready to illuminate the banquet table.
In fact they were all so much occupied that they did not notice three
boys who had made a long circuit and brought up in the fields back of
the Masterson barn.
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