"Are we going to stay here all night?" demanded Whopper, after a spell of silence.
"I don't see what else we can do," answered Snap.
"If we do have to stay, I am going to have a fire," put in Giant. "And somebody ought to remain on guard."
"To be sure, Giant. All of us can take turns at watching and at keeping the fire going."
Wood was handy, and finding something of a cleared space, they built a fire and over this cooked the single squirrel Giant had brought down shortly after leaving the regular camp. It was not much of a meal, but it was all they had, and with it they had to be content.
Even with one on guard, it was rather hard for the other two to go to sleep, though they were worn out by their long tramping around. They slept only by fits and starts, and they were glad enough when morning came and they saw the sunlight stealing over the tree-tops.
"And now for the camp!" cried Snap. "I hope nothing has happened there during our absence."
"Oh, what a night! What a night!"
It was Shep who uttered the words. The long spell of darkness had at last gone, and looking up overhead he could see a bit of sunshine striking the edge of the hollow.
In vain he had tried to get out of the tree. Every plan had proved unsuccessful, and he had been held a prisoner through the long hours which seemed to have no end.
He was both hungry and thirsty and had slept only by winks, as the saying goes.
He no longer dared to think of the future, fearing he would go mad. Was he really to remain there to die of thirst and hunger? Was the hollow tree to prove his coffin?
A bird fluttered down into the hollow and startled him. He raised his hand softly and tried to catch it, but like a flash the bird was gone, and he was left as lonely as before.
Another hour passed and his thirst seemed to grow upon him every minute. Then he grew desperate, and bracing himself, tried with all of his strength to burst the hollow tree asunder. But the effort availed nothing.
Presently he heard something that caused him to rouse up. It was the sound of a shotgun, discharged at a distance.
"They must be out—-perhaps they are looking for me!" he murmured. "I hope they come here!" And he breathed a silent prayer that they might not pass him by in his sore distress.
A little later he heard a curious scratching at the top of the hollow. He strained his eyes and saw a bushy tail swishing around.
"A wild animal!" he thought. "Will it come down on top of me?"
He gave a low call and the animal disappeared. But then, after a period of several minutes, it came back again and this time looked down into the hollow tree, longingly.
"A wildcat!"
Shep was right; it was indeed wildcat that had come to pay him a visit, and the beast seemed to be in anything but a good humor as it glared down upon the imprisoned young hunter.
Would the beast spring down upon him? That was the question Shep asked himself. As quickly as he could he raised his hand which contained his jack-knife.
"Scat!" he hissed, and, alarmed once more, the wildcat backed away from the hollow and sat down on a limb of the tree to think matters over. As a matter of fact, the hollow tree was one of the wildcat's favorite haunts and it did not know what to make of it to find it thus strangely inhabited.
In the meantime the three young hunters who had lost themselves in the woods were doing their best to find their way back to camp. They had reached a small opening and Whopper raised an unexpected cry:
"Boys, look!"
"Shep's gun, as sure as fate!" ejaculated Snap.
"And his game-bag," added Giant. "What can this mean?"
"I think" began Snap, and then chanced to glance up into the tree. He caught a full view of the wildcat, and stopping his talk, took quick aim and fired. The wildcat turned over in the air, gave a second whirl, and then disappeared from view.
"Where did he go to?" asked Giant, recovering from his astonishment.
"Fell into the tree," answered Whopper. "Hark!"
They listened and heard a faint cry for help.
"Where is that from?"
"The tree! Shep must be in the tree!"
"And the wildcat's on top of him!"
"I'm going to his help!" exclaimed Snap, and began to climb up the hollow tree without delay.
When he gained the opening he peered down into it.
"Shep! Are you there?" he called out, anxiously.
"Yes," was the faint answer. "Is that you, Snap?"
"Yes. Is that wildcat alive?"
"I guess not. But he has almost smothered me."
"How did you get down there?"
"Slipped down. Get something and help me to get out."
"I will."
"Poor Shep! What a place to be in all night!" was Whopper's comment."I wouldn't go through that for two billion dollars!"
"I'm going to cut a pole with a notch on the end," said Snap. "We can pull him up with that."
A number of saplings were handy and Snap soon had the pole he desired. Then all three of the boys climbed into the tree and lowered the pole.
"All ready?" cried Snap.
"Yes," was the muffled answer from the bottom of the hollow.
"Take care, or somebody will slip out of the tree," cautioned Giant."Our footing isn't of the best."
All three of the young hunters strained on the pole with all their might. At first they could not budge the doctor's son, but at last they gained a few inches, and then the rest was easy.
"I'm glad I am out of that," gasped Shep, when he could step on one of the tree's branches. "I don't know what I should have done had you not happened along."
"We started to look for you and got lost," answered Whopper, and then told the story.
Shep was so weak he could scarcely use his feet and they had to help him to get to the ground. He told of his night of horror and of the experience with the wildcat. He was exceedingly thankful that they had shot the animal.
"We may as well take our time getting back to camp," said Snap. "I shan't feel like doing anything else to-day."
"I am going to do nothing but rest," answered Shep.
Arriving at the camp they were thankful to find everything just as they had left it. A fire was started up and preparations made for a substantial meal. Then all took a good wash and ate their fill, after which they declared they felt much better.
"I have learned one lesson," said Shep. "I am going to give hollow trees a wide berth after this."
"And when I go out after deer I am going to make sure of where I am traveling," said Whopper. "Don't catch me getting lost fifteen miles from nowhere again!"
The wildcat had been brought along, and during the afternoon Snap skinned the carcass and hung the pelt up to cure. The carcass was thrown away, as they did not know what else to do with it.
After that several days passed quietly and then came another rain lasting the best part of a night. To their satisfaction the new cabin did not leak at all, everything remaining as dry inside as before the downpour.
"Now we have a cabin worth having," was Snap's comment. "I hope that rain just leaked in all over Mr. Andrew Felps and his crowd."
"Oh, don't mention him!" cried Shep. "I hate to even hear the name!"
After the rain it was considerably colder and they were not slow in putting on some of the heavier underwear they had brought along. By the suggestion of Snap they also spent one whole day in cutting firewood and piling it up beside the cabin door.
"There is no telling what we may strike soon," said Snap. "If a heavy fall of snow should arrive it wouldn't be very nice to be caught without a good supply of wood."
"Oh, we could go out in the snow and cut some," said Giant.
"Not if it was real deep," put in Whopper. "I'd rather have the wood on hand, as Snap says."
The boys had not forgotten about the deer they had seen, and one somewhat cloudy morning they started across the lake in the rowboat, taking their guns and some provisions along. They headed directly for the spot where the game had been seen and then hunted for the trail.
"Here it is!" cried Shep, presently. "And it looks to be fresh."
"You are right," answered Snap. "And that proves that the deer have been here since that heavy rain. Now, boys, if we follow this trail with care we may be able to bring down something worth while."
And then they set off to follow the trail, little dreaming of the strange adventure in store for them.
The opposite shore of the lake was rocky and full of brushwood, and it was rather difficult to follow the deer tracks, which occasionally led directly across the rocks. Once in a while they would miss the trail and then a grand hunt for prints would be instituted, until the trail was recovered. They passed over one small hill and then came to a broad hollow, fronting something of a mountain.
"I see some deer!" cried Whopper, pointing with his hand. "Five or six of 'em."
The young hunter was right, and all gazed at the game with longing eyes. The deer were more than a third of a mile away, on the mountainside.
"Let me see," said Snap, "the wind is blowing from the west. So we had better make a semicircle and come up on the other side of the game. If we don't, the wind will carry our scent to them and they'll be off like a shot."
Silently the others followed the directions of their leader, and once again they plunged into the brushwood. The way was harder than before and more than once they had to halt, not knowing exactly how to proceed.
"This is dead loads of fun," grunted Whopper. "Never had such fun since I was born. It's almost as good as chopping wood when the other fellows are playing ball!"
"Do you want to go back?" questioned Snap, quickly. "For you can if you wish, you know."
"Humph! not much. I'm going to see the end of it."
"Then, don't grumble," put in Giant. "It's harder work for me to climb the rocks than you."
On they went until they came to another opening. They gazed forward eagerly, but to their chagrin the deer had disappeared.
"Now what do you make of that?" came quickly from Shep.
"They can't be far off," said Snap, cheerfully. "Perhaps they are just beyond the bushes yonder."
Up the mountainside they went, sometimes abreast and then in Indian file. Soon they came to a mass of heavy undergrowth.
"Gracious, what a tangle this is!" cried Giant. "I don't seem to be \able to get through, no matter how hard I try."
"I'll help you," answered Snap, and worked his way to the small youth's side.
"Say, fellows, the bottom isn't very safe here!" exclaimed Whopper, a second later. "It's all spongy!"
"Let us get out!" put in Shep, thinking of his experience in the hollow tree.
They tried to turn, but before they could make any progress felt the brushwood sinking rapidly. Then came a crashing of branches and vines, and down slipped all four of the young hunters, from the bright light of day into utter darkness!
All gave yells, for they were thoroughly frightened. They were pitched together in a heap, and held tight to one another as they went down, first a distance of fifteen or twenty feet and then twice further.
"We are in water!" gasped Shep, when he could speak. The water was up to their ankles, but speedily it reached their knees.
At last, when the downward movement had come to an end, the boys drew long breaths and tried to gaze around them. They were in a mass of brushwood, and this brushwood seemed to be floating on the water. All was pitch dark around them, for they had not come down straight, but in something of a zig-zag fashion.
"Well, of all things!" came from Whopper. "Are we going down to the center of the earth?"
"It looks like it." answered Giant, with a groan.
"One thing seems to be certain, fellows—-we are not meant to get those deer."
"That looks to be true," answered Snap.
"This is about as bad as being down that hollow tree," said Shep.He was more than glad that he was not alone.
Having recovered their breath a little, the young hunters tried to decide upon what would be the best thing to attempt next.
"We have got to get out, that is all there is to it," said Snap.
"Well, I am willing," said Whopper, gravely.
"See any stairs around?" asked Giant.
"Maybe Snap has spotted an elevator," said Whopper, with a grin."If so, Snap, press the button by all means."
"I don't think this is any laughing matter," said the leader of the gun club.
"No more do I," answered Shep, quickly. "The sooner we get out of this hole the better."
"We are moving again!" ejaculated Giant, and all felt that he was right. The whole mass of brushwood floated off on something of an underground stream, carrying the boys with it. The movement continued for a distance of at least two hundred feet and then the bushes became stationary.
As it was still pitch dark around them, Snap lit a match and set fire to a dry bush. By the light, they saw they were in a hollow that was not unlike a cave in the mountain. At their feet ran the stream that had carried them forward, disappearing under some overhanging rocks. On all sides were rocks and dirt, with here and there a decayed tree root, showing that they were not very far under the earth's surface.
"Here's an adventure," was Shep's comment. "We must be careful, or we'll bring down that dirt above us and be buried alive."
"We are about buried alive now," said Giant. "I'd give a good bit to be out of this hole."
Stepping from the brushwood, the boys made their way to the dirt and rocks beyond. By this time each had a kind of a torch, so the place was fairly well lighted.
Walking back a distance, they saw where the smoke curled to—-through the shaft down which they had fallen so unceremoniously. But the top of the shaft was hidden from their view.
"I don't know how we are going to get up that," was Shep's comment, after looking the ground over. "If we try it we may bring all the dirt and rocks down on our heads."
"Just my idea of it," answered Snap. "Let us try to find some other way out."
They walked back and forth in the cave and then, by common consent, sat down on some flat rocks to consider the situation.
Nobody felt like joking, for all felt the seriousness of the situation.
"That water must come to the surface somewhere," said Snap. "But it may be a good distance from here."
As they were wet to the knees, one after another got down in the stream and examined the rocks. Some thought they saw daylight under the water beyond the rocks, but nobody was sure.
"If it wasn't so cold a fellow could take a dive and find out," said Shep. "But I don't want a dive in such water as that," and the others agreed with him.
It was noontime and Whopper suggested that they have something to eat.
"I am willing," said Snap. "But don't eat too much. There is no telling how long we'll have to remain down here."
So they ate sparingly, and washed the meal down with water from the underground stream, which was as pure as it was cold.
The afternoon was passed in looking around the cave. All they found of interest were the bones of several wild animals.
"Perhaps they fell into this place and couldn't get out again," suggested Shep, gloomily.
Snap had obtained a long stick and with this he was poking at the ceiling in various spots. He worked with care, and the others watched him with interest.
"There, look at that!" he cried, presently. "The stick has gone through into something!"
He withdrew the stick as he concluded, and the boys saw a single ray of light shoot down upon them. All sprang to the opening quickly.
"There is daylight there, that is sure!" cried Whopper, and his voice had a ring of hope in it. "Let us dig away a little dirt and see what comes of it."
All were willing, and they poked at the dirt with care, using such sticks as they could find for the purpose. At first the ground came away slowly, but soon Snap noticed several cracks.
"Look out there!" he cried. "Something is coming down! Get back!"
All leaped out of danger and the next moment down came a mass of dirt, rocks and brushwood, scattering in all directions. The downfall left a hole all of two yards in diameter, and they could easily look out on the sky.
"Hurrah!" cried Whopper. "This is how the young hunters escape from their underground dungeon cell!"
The fall of the dirt and rocks had left a mound on the center of the cave floor, and by mounting this they were enabled to pull themselves to the earth's surface. It is safe to say that never were boys more delighted to get out of a hole.
"After this I am going to be careful where I step," said Shep."First it was a hollow tree and then this cave. Maybe the next timeI won't get out at all," and he gave a little shiver.
While they were in the cave all thought concerning the deer had been vanished, but now they were at liberty once more the four young hunters were just as eager as ever to get a shot at the game.
"We must hurry if we want to do anything," said Snap. "It is such a gloomy day that it will be dark soon and then the deer will surely give us the slip."
On they went, up the mountainside, but now taking care that they should go into no more caves. Thus several hundred feet were covered. Then of a sudden, Snap held up his hand.
"Hark!"
All listened and heard a crashing in the brushwood. Like a flash, five deer leaped into view, rushing across a small opening. They saw the boys and were out of sight again in a twinkling, before a gun could be raised at them.
"Why didn't you shoot?" cried Shep to Snap.
"Why didn't you?"
"I didn't have my gun ready," came from Whopper.
"Neither did I," added Giant.
The four young hunters gazed at each other sheepishly enough. Their long tramp had been all in vain.
"We're a lot of doughheads," grumbled Shep. "Come all the way for those deer and then——-Oh, say, let's go back home!"
"I wasn't thinking the deer would come this way," said Snap. "But this proves the truth of Jed Sanborn's words. He told me when I went hunting I must be ready for a shot all the time."
There was an awkward silence. The boys were bitterly chagrined.
"Can't we follow them up again?" asked Giant.
"Not to-night," answered Whopper. "They may go several miles before they stop. They got so close to us that they were thoroughly scared. My, what an opportunity we lost for bagging at least four of them!"
"We better not tell anybody of this experience," said Whopper. "If we do, everybody will have the laugh on us."
It was growing dark already and they thought the best they could do would be to go down to the lake and row back to camp. During the day they had allowed some small game to pass unmolested, and this now added to their discomfiture.
"I am going to stir up something before I go back," declared Whopper.
"So am I," added Snap.
It took the best part of an hour to get back to the lake shore, and on the way they discovered several rabbits, some squirrels, and over a dozen birds of good size. The bringing down of this game served to raise their spirits a bit, but they still felt decidedly sore whenever they thought of the deer.
It was nightfall when they rowed across the lake and struck the shore in front of their camp. While Giant tied up the boat the others hurried to the cabin.
"Hullo! somebody has been here!" exclaimed Snap, glancing around hastily.
His words were true, as the others could readily see. All of their stores had been overhauled and some few of them taken away. On the floor lay the broken bowl of a clay pipe and near it some half-burnt tobacco.
"Hullo! Anybody around here?" called out Shep, and ran outside to gaze around. No answer came back, nor did anybody show himself.
"It was evidently a man, and he smoked a clay pipe," said Snap.
"Couldn't have been Jed Sanborn?" asked Whopper. "He smokes, sometimes."
"No; Jed wouldn't tumble the stores around in this fashion," answered Snap. "And, besides, if he came here he would most likely be back now to see us. No; this is the work of some stranger."
"Maybe somebody from the Felps camp," put in Giant, who had come up.
"That is possible," said Snap.
"Let us see just what is missing," said Shep.
They made a careful examination of all the things in the camp. One lad had lost some underwear, another a pair of socks and a handkerchief and another a blanket. Some provisions were gone, also a knife and fork, a cup, a frying-pan and half a dozen other things.
"Whoever was here evidently fitted himself to camp out," observedShep. "I wish we could catch him! I'd give him a piece of my mind."
"So would I," added Whopper.
All were too tired, however, to hunt for the interloper and all they did that evening was to get supper and take it easy. When they turned in it was raining, but by midnight the stars came out one by one.
"After this I shall hate to leave the camp all alone for fear somebody will run off with our things," remarked Snap, while at breakfast.
"Just the way I feel about it," answered Shep. "Yet we can't watch the things all the time."
For several days they remained close to the camp and then received a second visit from Jed Sanborn.
He reported that everything was going on well at Fairview, and listened to what they had to tell with much interest.
"Yes, you must get those deer by all means," he said. "But about the feller that come here and took your things. He must have been a mean critter an' no mistake!"
Jed Sanborn was quite willing to go out with them after the deer, and the start was made on the following morning. They were soon across Firefly Lake, and then the old hunter showed the boys an easy trail over the hill and up the distant mountain.
"Gracious! This beats going through the bushes!" cried Giant.
"It's a pity we didn't know of this trail before," said Whopper. "It might have saved us from going about 'steen miles out of our way."
"Well, you'll know it after this," said Jed Sanborn, with a quiet smile. "Can't learn everything in a day, ye know. The woods is like book larnin'—-ye have got to learn a page at a time."
They walked along until nearly noon and then came to something of a clearing. Here all took a sharp gaze around and at last saw two deer far over to the eastward.
"We can walk straight for 'em," said the old hunter. "The wind is blowing our way."
Once more they hurried on, this time with hopes beating high. Half the distance was covered when Jed Sanborn halted the boys.
"Look to your guns, lads. Is every gun ready for use?"
"Mine is!" came from one after another, as the examination was made.
"Good! Now remember, if we come up to the deer and you shoot, aim for the one that's in line with you—-that is, the boy on the left takes the left deer, the boy on the right takes the deer on the right, a boy in the middle takes one in the middle, and so on. Do you understand that?"
They all said that they did.
"Very good. Now, one thing more. Don't get scared. Shoot quickly, but take as good an aim as you possibly can. If the deer is coming toward you, let him git putty close before you let drive."
Having issued these instructions, the old hunter moved on once more, and the boys followed. Each had his weapon ready for use, and each advanced with as little noise as possible.
The deer were in a little glade, cropping the tender grass around a small spring. They were six in number, including a fair-sized buck, who occasionally raised his head, as if on guard. But the wind, as Jed Sanborn had said, was blowing directly from the deer to the hunters, so nothing in the air gave the game the alarm until it was too late.
When the old hunter raised his hand, the boys knew it was a signal to halt. Jed Sanborn crouched low and wormed his way to some bushes fringing the glade, and the young hunters did the same.
It was a thrilling sight and it made the boys tremble in eager anticipation. Not a word was spoken, for they scarcely dared to breathe.
In a minute each hunter had his gun into position, Giant resting on a rock and Whopper in the crotch of a low tree.
"I'll take the buck," whispered Jed Sanborn. "Ready?"
"Yes."
"Then fire!"
Crack! went the several firearms, in a scattering volley, and the buck and one of the others pitched headlong, not to rise. Another deer was hit in the side, but leaped into the bushes and was soon lost to sight. Still another went limping off on three legs.
"After 'em! Finish 'em up!" yelled Jed Sanborn, and led in the chase, across the glade and into the brushwood beyond. Here they caught sight of the limping deer, and all of the boys gave it a shot, which finished it in short order.
"Three, anyway," was the old hunter's comment. "Not so bad."
"You brought down the buck and Snap brought down the deer near him," said Whopper.
"And all of you brought down the third one," said Snap. "I think asJed says, it is not such a bad haul."
"Can we get the others?" asked Giant, anxiously. "I want to do better than I have."
"No use of going after 'em now," said the old hunter. "They will run too far. Some day—-listen!"
They listened, and from a distance heard two gun shots, followed by several more.
"Somebody else is out," said Shep. "Wonder who it can be?"
He was destined to find out before he was many hours older.
It was no light matter to get the three deer down to the lake shore. The old hunter showed the boys how to lash the game to long poles, resting the poles on their shoulders as they walked along.
"I believe I'll take the buck to town," said Jed Sanborn. "I can get a good price for him there."
"Will you take one of the deer home for us?" asked Snap, after consulting with his fellow-members of the gun club.
"Sure I will, lad."
"We want the meat divided," came from Shep. "Give each family its fair share." And so it was arranged, and the boys told Jed Sanborn to tell their folks that all was going well and they were "having the time of their lives."
After Jed Sanborn had departed the four boys set to work to cut up the deer they had kept. They nailed the hide up so that it might he preserved, and then cut a fine venison steak for supper.
"Now we've got a real camp!" cried Snap, enthusiastically. "Just think of it! Deer meat!" And he fairly danced a jig for joy.
It was certainly a happy gathering, and the young hunters voted the venison steak the best meat they had ever eaten.
"Well, I declare!" cried Whopper, presently, as he gazed across the lake. "Am I mistaken, or is that a camp-fire I see."
"It certainly is a fire," answered Snap, leaping to his feet.
"Maybe it belongs to those persons we heard shooting, after we shot the deer," suggested Shep.
The boys were curious to know what sort of folks could be in that vicinity, and after it was talked over, Snap and Whopper entered the rowboat and moved over the lake in the direction of the strange light.
"I see three persons moving around," announced Snap, as they drew closer. "Let us remain on the lake until we make sure what sort of people they are."
They drew closer with caution and at last made out five young men, among them Ham Spink, the Fairview dude, who was, as usual, smoking a cigarette.
"It's the whole Ham Spink crowd," muttered Snap—-"Ham and Dick Bush, Carl Dudder, Sid Foley and Sam Anderson. I didn't know they were coming up here."
"Ham said something about going hunting," answered Whopper. "Don't you know how he stuck up his nose at our way of going out?"
"Yes, I remember. But I don't see that their camp looks any better than ours does," went on Snap. "See, they have a fancy striped tent. That looks well, but it can't be very warm."
"They have one of those patent cook stoves, Snap. They don't use the camp-fire to cook by."
"Well, I'd just as soon use the regular fire."
"See, they have a wash-stand and a regular looking-glass," went onWhopper. "Nothing like being in style, is there?"
During their conversation the two boys had allowed their craft to float close to shore. Now one of the lads in the camp saw the boat and leaped up in alarm.
"Somebody is coming, fellows!" he called out.
"Oh, it's only Snap Dodge and Whopper Dawson," drawled Ham Spink, lighting a fresh cigarette. "What do you want?" he asked, abruptly.
"Nothing," answered Snap, coldly.
"Then why did you come over?"
"We wanted to find out who was camping here, that's all."
"Humph! You are over there, ain't you?" went on Spink.
"Yes."
"Had any luck hunting?"
"A little."
"Just wait till we get down to business. We are going to bring down everything in sight," went on Ham Spink. He could hardly talk without "blowing his own horn," as some of the boys put it.
"Were you out for something this afternoon?" asked Whopper, curiously.
"What business is that of yours?" asked one of the other boys.
"None at all."
"Yes, we were out. We got two fine wild turkeys," answered Ham Spink."To-morrow we are going after some deer we saw early this morning."
"Maybe you won't get them, Ham," said Snap.
"Why not, I'd like to know?"
"We got three of them this afternoon."
"Three deer!" came from nearly all of the rival hunters.
"Yes."
"Oh, that's a fairy-tale," came from Ham Spink. "You can't make me believe it."
"It is true," said Whopper. "Jed Sanborn was along. He took two of the deer to town, and we have the other at our camp."
"Humph! Think you are some pumpkins, I suppose," sneered Ham Spink. "Well, let me tell you one thing: Don't you dare to interfere with our hunting after this."
"We have as much right to hunt here as you have."
"We saw those deer first and it was our right to shoot them."
"Then why didn't you shoot?"
"Next time we will," said one of the other boys.
"How long are you going to stay here?"
"As long as we please."
A few more words passed, and then Snap and Whopper turned their boat around and started back for their own camp.
Hardly had they done this when something whizzed through the air and landed in the bottom of the boat with a squashing sound. It was a tomato that was overripe, and the center splashed over both boys.
"Who threw that?" cried Snap, in anger.
There was no answer.
"Whoever threw that is too cowardly to own to it!" went on the leader of the Fairview Gun Club.
"Do you mean to say we are a set of cowards?" blustered Ham Spink.
"Yes, you are, to do such a mean thing as that in the dark."
Just then another overripe tomato came whizzing over the rowboat.Had not Whopper ducked his head he must have been struck.
"Wait, I'll give them a dose of shot!" cried Whopper, reaching down into the boat as if to take a gun. As a matter of fact, the boys had brought no weapons with them.
"Hi! hi! Don't you dare to shoot!" roared Ham Spink, in terror.
"Don't shoot! Don't shoot!" came from some of the dude's friends.
"Are you going to throw any more things at us?" demanded Whopper.
"No, no!"
Some of the boys on shore were so scared that they ran for the nearest trees and got out of sight.
"We ought to give them a shot or two," said Snap, seeing the joke of the situation. "Maybe it will put some common sense into them."
"Don't!" came once more from three of the boys on shore, and they drew further out of sight than ever.
"You are a set of cowards," said Snap. "Now, don't you dare to make any more trouble for us. If you do, you'll surely get into hot water."
"We'll—-er—-let you alone if you'll let us alone," answered HamSpink, in a voice that trembled.
"Very well, then, see that you remember that," said Snap.
A moment later he and Whopper rowed away and soon the darkness hid them from the view of the Spink party. Then the boys on shore drew a sigh of relief.
"What rowdies!" declared one boy, who was as dudish as Spink. "I really believe they would have shot us, don't you know!"
"Very, very rude," said the youth who had thrown one of the tomatoes.
"They ought to be locked up for threatening us," declared Ham Spink. "It is an outrage that we cannot come here for an outing without being bothered by such low creatures."
"I tell you what we can do," piped in one of the crowd. "Let us go over to their camp some day when they are away and hide all their things on them."
"Yes, that's an idea!" cried several. "It will be lots of fun, and they won't know who did it."
"Well, we want to be certain that nobody is around," said Ham Spink."For if they caught us at it they would surely kill us."
"Oh, we'll be careful!"
After the deer hunt the young hunters were content to take it easy for several days, lolling around the camp, or going out fishing on the lake or up the river beyond.
While fishing one day, Giant and Shep ran into several of the Spink crowd and some unpleasant words passed. When the rival campers separated, the feeling upon both sides was very bitter.
"I don't like those chaps at all," was Shep's comment. "I am sorry they came to Firefly Lake."
"They make me sick," was the way Giant expressed himself. "And they are such dudes, too, with their fancy hunting outfits and patent fishing gear."
"And not one of them can shoot worth a cent," said Snap.
"How do you know that?"
"I saw them at the shooting-gallery one day. They couldn't make a single bull's-eye, try their best, and lots of times they didn't even hit the target."
On Friday, Shep came into camp from a walk up the lake and his face showed his excitement.
"I saw some more deer!" he cried. "Come on, all of you! It's the chance of our lives!"
This announcement filled the crowd with excitement, and soon they were asking all sorts of questions of the doctor's son. He had looked across the upper end of the lake and had seen seven or eight deer making their way along one of the mountain trails.
"We'll take to the boat and go over," said Snap. "Hurry up and get some provisions together. This may keep us out all day."
The boys set to work with a will, and in twenty minutes were ready for the trip. They kicked out the camp-fire, shut up the cabin and then leaped into the rowboat and took up the oars.
"I suppose the cabin is safe," said Snap, a little anxiously.
"Safe enough," answered Shep, whose mind was on the deer.
The young hunters rowed up the lake with all speed, and, landing, tied their craft fast among the bushes.
"This will be an all-day chase, I guess," said Giant.
"Well, what of it?" returned Whopper. "Our time is our own. I hope we get at least one deer."
The young hunters soon passed out of sight of the shore, and a moment later another rowboat appeared, containing Ham Spink and his particular crony, Dick Bush.
"Say, Ham, did you hear what they said?" asked Dick Bush, eagerly.
"I certainly did, Dick," drawled Spink.
"They expect to be gone all day."
"Exactly."
"This will give us the chance we have been looking for."
"By jove! that's so!"
"We can go over to their camp and do just as we please, and they will never know who did it."
"Not unless they come back sooner than we expect."
"We can stop them from coming back in a hurry."
"I don't see how."
"Over yonder is their boat. We can tow that along. When they find the boat gone they'll have to walk around the end of the lake, and that will take a long time."
"So it will. Do you think it is safe to take the boat now?"
"We can wait a little while."
They waited, and at last, thinking the coast clear, pulled the other craft from the bushes and tied it to the stern of their own boat. Then they wound up their lines, for they had been fishing, and lost no time in rowing to their camp, where they had left their cronies lolling in the sun, smoking cigarettes and playing cards.
"Hullo! where did you pick up the boat?" asked one of the other boys.
"It belongs to the Snap Dodge crowd," answered Ham Spink. "Boys, we have got the chance of our lives to get square with that crowd now," he added.
Matters were speedily explained, and all of the dudish boys present voted it would be just the thing to go over to the other camp and "make a mix of it," as they expressed it.
No time was lost in getting away from their own camp, and it did not take them long to get to the opposite shore of the lake. Here they took the second rowboat and hid it under some overhanging bushes.
"We'll make it look as if it drifted here," said Ham Spink, and this was done, a broken line dragging in the water over the bow.
Arriving at the other camp, the dudish boys proceeded to make themselves at home. Feeling certain Snap's crowd would not return for some time, they rekindled the fire and cut themselves some meat and took whatever of the stores they wanted. Inside of an hour a good dinner was ready and they sat down to this with gusto.
"Nothing like living on the fat of the land," observed Ham Spink."Must say, their coffee is all right."
"That's because you made it good and strong," said another of the boys.
"Here's a fine can of condensed milk," said another, helping himself liberally.
"I found some fine sardines," put in still another. "And here is a tin of fancy crackers."
"And some good cheese. Say, boys, they must be living pretty well, eh?"
So the talk ran on, while the Ham Spink crowd ate whatever they desired. As the meal progressed, they grew reckless and began to throw things around, so that more than a quarter of the stores were literally wasted.
After the meal was over the boys set to work to hide what remained of the stores, in the brushwood back of the camp. They carried everything out of the cabin, even to the blankets and extra clothing. Some clothing was thrown high into a tree and some shoes were placed under a flat rock.
It was not until four in the afternoon that Ham Spink and his cronies began to think of getting back to their own camp. They were all in rare good humor, thinking they had accomplished something wonderfully smart.
"We must watch for the return of Snap Dodge and his chums," said Ham.
"To be sure," put in Dick Bush. "Won't their eyes open when they see this! I just guess!"
"Finest trick I ever played in my life, don't you know," drawled one of the dudish boys.
The fire was kicked out and they took themselves to their boat. A strong wind was coming up, ruffling the surface of Firefly Lake.
"Wish we didn't have to row in the wind," said Ham Spink.
"We can take our time," said another.
They were a lazy, idle set, and wrangled over the question of who should row the boat. At last it was decided that all should take a turn, and they started.
The wind was increasing every minute, and no sooner were they out on the lake than the full blast caused the waves to dash over the side.
"Hi! I don't like this!" cried one of the boys, in alarm. "The boat may go over——-"
"Well, we have got to get back to our camp," said Ham, in dismay. He did not like the roughness himself.
To keep the water from coming into the boat they had to row into the wind, and this took them some distance away from their camp. Even as it was, every boy got more or less wet, which put them in an ill humor.
"I didn't calculate on this when I started out," grumbled one, as he surveyed his fancy outing costume. "I'll have to have these pressed again before long," and he sighed.
There was a point of land around which the wind was sweeping at a furious pace, and to avoid this spot, they decided to tie up their boat in a safe cove and walk to their camp through the woods.
"It's blowing up another storm," said one of the boys. "I think it will rain to-night, and rain hard."
"Won't those other fellows enjoy it—-if they can't find their things!"
"The things will get wet."
"Humph! what do we care?" grumbled Ham Spink.
"Maybe they'll make us pay for anything that is spoiled."
"I shan't pay a cent!"
"Nor I!" came from several.
The walk through the brushwood and over the rocks was not so pleasant, and all of the dudish boys were glad when they at last came in sight of the spot where their own camp was located.
"It's growing awfully dark," said one. "And just listen to that wind! It's a regular gale!"
The wind was indeed blowing a gale and all of the boys hurried forward faster than ever, until they stood in the midst of their camp. Then, with startled eyes, they gazed around quickly, and a howl of dismay went up.
"What does this mean?"
"All of our best things are gone!"
"Yes, and the best of the eating, too!"
"Somebody has been here while we were away!"
"I see what it means !" cried Ham Spink, in a great rage. "While we were at the other camp those fellows came here and fixed things up as you see!"
All unconscious of what was taking place during their absence, Snap and his chums went on their way, in the direction in which Shep had spotted the deer.
Having learned a few points from Jed Sanborn, they kept to the trail and made sure that the wind was not blowing from them to the game they hoped to lay low.
It was a rough and laborious climb up the mountainside, and once they missed the trail and got into a pocket so that they could go no further. Then, on turning back, Shep saw two magnificent wild turkeys and was strongly tempted to bring one of them down.
"If you do, you'll scare the deer sure," said Whopper.
"I know it but if we miss the deer I'll be sorry I didn't take this shot."
"Well, that's the gamble in hunting," put in Giant. "I saw a rabbit awhile ago I could have had for the asking."
Having gotten out of the pocket, they went on once more, and shortly before noon reached a knob of the mountain. From that point they made out nine or ten deer a distance to the north of them.
"This is certainly a great chance," said Snap, enthusiastically. "We don't want to miss it by carelessness. Remember what Jed Sanborn told us."
All looked to their firearms, and then went forward with scarcely a word. Coming to the last fringe of brushwood, they got down on their hands and knees and moved on until the game was brought once more into view.
The shot offered was certainly a good one, and in a few whispered words the young hunters decided what they would do. Each was to aim at his own deer and fire as many shots as he pleased. They took their positions, and Snap asked if they were ready. A dead silence followed.
"Fire!"
All of the shotguns went off in a volley, and then the shots came scatteringly. Three of the deer went down, dead, and one was mortally wounded. A big buck got a glancing shot in the flank, and, mad with pain and terror, turned and leaped in the direction of the young hunters.
"Look out!" ejaculated Shep. "He is coming for us!"
"Give him another shot!" yelled Giant. "My gun is empty."
Snap took hasty aim, but the shot only struck the buck in the side. Then the beast came on, with lowered antlers, as if to pin Snap against a tree.
At that moment Whopper fired, hitting the buck in the right foreleg. Down went the animal, but struggled up a moment later and tried to leap into the brushwood where Shep was concealed.
As he came down over the doctor's son, the boy was badly frightened and gave the buck a shove with his hand. Weak from loss of blood the beast fell over. Then Shep struck him a blow over the head with the gun stock and Giant finished him with a shot at close range. In the meantime the other deer that had been mortally wounded was put out of its misery; and then the short but sharp contest came to an end.
"What a haul!" ejaculated Snap, as he reloaded his weapon. "This is something to make town folks stare!"
"We must send some of the deer home," put in Whopper.
"Yes, yes!" cried the others.
It was with tremendous pride that the four young hunters looked the game over. The deer were young and tender, and the buck had a fine head, fit for mounting.
"This haul will open the eyes of the Spink crowd," remarked Whopper.
"If they weren't so mean we might send them some venison," said Shep.
"They wouldn't thank you for it," broke in Giant. "They are too high-toned for that sort of thing."
With so much game the boys hardly knew what to do. The deer were heavy and it was all two of them cared to do carrying one between them, hung from a pole.
"Well, we have got to get them to the lake somehow," said Snap."So the sooner we get at the job the better. Don't grumble."
"Grumble?" shouted Shep. "Why, I feel like singing." And he broke into a merry whistle.
They took the deer down to the lake in three trips. It made them pant to climb over some of the rocks, and when the job was done they were all out of breath.
"Have you fellows noticed how the wind is rising?" remarked Giant, as he paused to wipe the perspiration from his forehead.
"Yes," answered Shep. "We are surely fixing for a storm."
"By the way, Shep," came from Snap, "don't you wish you had shot a turkey instead of the deer?"
"Don't say turkeys," replied the doctor's son, reproachfully. They had brought the deer close to the spot where the rowboat had been tied up, and now Whopper went to get the craft. Soon he returned in anxiety.
"Didn't we tie up here?" he questioned.
"Certainly," answered Giant.
"The boat is gone."
"Gone!" came from all of the others.
"Yes."
A rush was made for the lake front, and they gazed in blank amazement at the spot where the craft had been left.
"We haven't made any mistake, have we?" asked Snap, slowly.
"No; this is the very spot," said Whopper. "I know it by that tree yonder."
"Whopper is right," put in Giant.
"Then one of two things has happened. Either the boat drifted away——-"
"It couldn't drift away—-it was too well tied."
"Then somebody took it."
"Perhaps the fellow who visited our camp!" cried Whopper.
There was a moment of awkward silence. Each youth was wondering what was best to do next.
"Hi, you fellows!" came from nearby. "Stop!"
They turned, to find themselves confronted by Dick Bush, the dude, and another of the rival campers, named Carl Dudder.
"What do you want?" asked Snap, shortly.
"You've been over to our camp, haven't you?" blustered Dick Bush.
"What makes you think that?" asked Whopper.
"Because you turned everything upside down and ran off with some of our things."
"We haven't been near your camp," put in Giant. "We have been out after these," and he pointed to the game.
When the dudish youths saw the deer they were astonished.
"Did you kill all those?" cried Carl Dudder.
"We did."
"To-day?"
"Yes."
"Then you weren't near our camp?" questioned Dick Bush, uneasily.
"We haven't been within a mile of your camp," answered Snap. "We left our boat here this morning and went directly into the mountains. We just got back—-to find our boat gone."
"Well, I'll be blessed!" gasped Carl Dudder, and then he gave his companion a peculiar look.
"Do you know anything about our boat, Bush?" demanded Snap, sharply.
"Why—-I—-er—-that is——-"
"Don't say anything!" whispered his companion, quickly.
"What's that?" asked Shep. "So you do know, eh? What have you done with the boat?"
"I—-er—-I didn't say I knew."
"But you do know—-your actions show it!" shouted Whopper. "Boys, don't let them get away until they tell us where our boat is!"
Snap and the others were quick to act, and Dick Bush and Carl Dudder were at once surrounded.
"Look here—-you—-you let us go!" said Dick Bush. His face showed how uncomfortable he felt.
"Tell us where the boat is."
"I—-er—-I don't know."
"That isn't true," said Whopper. "Tell the truth, Bush, unless you want us to duck you in the lake!"
At the mention of a ducking the dudish boy lost the most of his courage.
"Don't do that!" he whined. "I—-that is, it was only a joke.We—-er—-we took the boat to the other side of the lake."
"So that we could walk around to our camp, eh?" said Snap, his eyes showing his anger.
"It was, as Dick says, only a joke—-and we got paid back for it," put in Carl Dudder.
"How?"
"Somebody came to our camp and robbed us. We thought it was your crowd."
"Were you really robbed?" asked Shep.
"Yes; some of our best clothing is gone and also some of our stores."
"Well, we were not near your camp, I can give you my word of honor on that," said Snap.
"Then some common thief must have come along and done it."