The doctor's son and Giant listened with interest to what their chum had to say.
"What makes you think it was the hermit?" asked Shep.
"Because of this bit of red handkerchief. Whopper said he saw such a bandanna around the wild man's neck or head."
"Gracious! so we did!" cried the doctor's son. "I had forgotten about it. But do you think that wild creature took my watch?" he added anxiously.
"Yes, unless you lost it on the way here."
"I didn't lose it before I went to sleep, for I wound it up, same as I do every night before retiring."
"Let us take a look around for it," suggested Giant.
A keen search was made, but nothing that looked like a watch could be located anywhere. Then, as they were a bit cold, the boys renewed the fire, thus adding to the light.
"If that wild man, or whatever he is, took my watch I want it back," declared the doctor's son.
"Do you think he'd take it to that cabin in the woods with him?" questioned Giant.
"More than likely."
"That must be a good way from here."
"It is. But you would want the watch if it was yours."
"Of course."
The boys talked the matter over for a quarter of an hour and then laid down to sleep once more, leaving the camp fire burning brightly. But the doctor's son could not slumber soundly, for his thoughts were on his missing timepiece, which had been a present and a valuable one.
They were up at sunrise, and then another consultation was had.
"I'd like to look for the watch," said Snap. "But if we don't get back to camp Whopper and Tommy will worry about us—-and there is no telling what the Spink crowd will do in our absence."
"I suppose if that hermit has it the watch will be safe for a day or two," answered the doctor's son thoughtfully. "We might go back to the camp first and then make a trip to the cabin in the woods."
So it was decided, and after a hasty breakfast they set off in the direction of the Windy Mountains. They took the same trail as before, and on the walk kept their eyes open for game. They managed to bring down two grouse and a squirrel, but that was all. They reached camp an hour after sundown, much to the satisfaction of Whopper and Tommy, who came to meet them.
"Gosh! but I am tired!" said Snap as he threw his burden on the ground. "I feel as if I wanted to rest for a week!"
"A good night's sleep will make you change your mind," answered the doctor's son.
Supper was ready for them, and they sat down gladly and partook of the things provided. During the day, to pass the time, Whopper and Tommy had baked a big pan of beans and another of biscuits, and both were good. They had also tried their hand at baking some cake, but this was a little burned. Yet the boys ate it and declared it was all right. At home it might have been different, but when one is out in the woods, and doing one's own cooking—-well, there is no use in finding fault, that's all.
Whopper and Tommy listened with interest to what the others had to tell about the Spink crowd and about the midnight visitor. They laughed heartily over what had been done to the rowboat, and were serious over the loss of Shep's watch.
"I'd be afraid to meet that wild man," said Tommy. "Why, there is no telling what he would do if he was cornered."
"That is true," answered Shep. "Of course we can take our guns, but I'd hate to shoot anybody, even if it seemed necessary."
"Maybe he'll give in if we point our guns at him," suggested Whopper. "But I hardly think so. He may be as crazy as they make 'em and afraid of nothing."
"Well, I'll think it over," answered the doctor's son thoughtfully. He did not wish to expose his chums to danger, nor did he wish to get into trouble himself. Yet he felt the loss of the timepiece keenly.
The young hunters looked for a visit from the Spink crowd the next day, but it did not come. Instead, it rained, and they had to keep in the tent most of the time. But it cleared during the night, and the days to follow were ideal.
Sunday passed, and on Monday Shep, Snap and Whopper went out on a hunt, leaving Giant and Tommy in charge of the camp. Giant declared he was going to take and develop some photographs, using a daylight tank instead of a dark room for the latter process. It had been decided that some of the party should visit the lonely cabin in the woods later in the week.
The boys had seen some traces of wild beasts up the mountain side, and thither they directed their steps, keeping their eyes and ears on the alert as they proceeded. They had scarcely covered a quarter of a mile when they came upon the mutilated remains of a mink.
"Hello! what do you make of this?" cried Snap as he pointed it out.
"A mink, and some other wild beast killed it," said Whopper.
"Do you suppose it was a bear?" asked Snap.
"No; most likely a wildcat, or a big fox or wolf."
"Let's go after 'em!"
"They are no good for game—-and that is what we are after."
"We might get some good photographs."
"That's so—-I never thought of that!"
Filled with the idea of taking some pictures that might prove of value, the boys hurried on through the woods and up the side of the mountain. Shep cautioned the others to move as silently as possible, so hardly a word was said.
It was almost noon when they came to a flat spot, where there was something of a clearing. Here there was a spring and a pool, and a fallen tree lay across both.
"Wait!" whispered the doctor's son. "I think I see something!"
The others halted, and Shep advanced with increased caution, bringing his camera to the front as he did so.
The next instant he saw a sight that filled him with interest and pleasure. On the fallen tree spanning the pool rested two wildcats, mates, facing each other. Both had their eyes closed and were evidently asleep.
He motioned for the others to come up, and in a few seconds all were ready to take pictures. The background was perfect, and they felt this would be one of the finest subjects yet obtained.
Hardly daring to breathe, one after another of the boys clicked the shutter of his camera and the negatives were taken. Then they swung their cameras back and brought forward their shotguns.
As they did this one of the wildcats suddenly opened its eyes and looked around. On the instant it let out a cry of rage and its back commenced to bristle. Then the other wildcat leaped from the tree to the ground and crouched as if for a spring.
"Fire!" came the command from the doctor's son, but this was not necessary, for both Snap and Whopper blazed away as quickly as they could. The wildcat on the tree was hit and fell over into the pool with a loud splash. The other wildcat made a leap for Snap and hit him in the shoulder.
"Shoot him! shoot him!" yelled Snap in terror, and did what he could to keep the beast from reaching his breast and throat.
"Can't shoot—-might hit you!" answered the doctor's son, but then he came up on the side and blazed away at close quarters, hitting the wildcat in the left hind leg. This caused the animal to drop to the ground, where it twisted and turned so quickly that the eyes of the young hunters could scarcely follow it.
The other wildcat had by this time climbed out of the pool. It gave itself a vigorous shake and turned as if to limp away. But then it espied its mate and stopped, as if calculating on what to do next.
"Shoot 'em!" sang out Whopper, and discharged his gun a second time. He hit the second wildcat in the back, but the wounds were not serious and the beast still thrashed around, snapping and snarling in a fashion that would have frightened any hunter.
The shot from the gun awakened the fury of the first wildcat, and crouching low it came toward Whopper step by step, its two eyes glowing like tiny electric lights. Whopper tried to run, but he was fascinated by the sight and too much overcome to move a step.
"Look out, Whopper!" screamed Snap, and then he raised his own gun to take another shot. But the hammer merely clicked. He tried it again, in increased haste, and as a consequence shot wild, the charge going over the wildcat's head.
Then the wildcat made a leap, striking Whopper and hurling him over backward. As he went down the second wildcat lurched itself forward, and in a twinkling both were on the young hunter, snapping and snarling as though about to eat him up!
It was a moment of dire peril and no one realized it more than did the young hunter who had been attacked by the two wild beasts of the forest. Like a flash he rolled over and doubled up to prevent the wildcats from reaching his head and neck.
This quick movement sent the animals to the ground, and as they landed Snap jumped forward and struck one of the wildcats with the stock of his gun. It was a telling blow, for by luck more than judgment it crushed the beast's skull.
The attack on its mate caused the other wildcat to pause. Then, filled with a sudden fear, and failing to get at Whopper's throat, it commenced to retreat.
"It's running away!" shouted Snap. "Kill it, Shep!"
The doctor's son had been dancing around, trying to get in a shot without injuring Whopper.
Now he leveled his shotgun and banged away. It was a close-range hit, and the head of the wildcat was almost blown from the body.
It was several seconds before the three boy hunters realized that the battle was at an end. Slowly Whopper turned over and looked at the two dead animals. He rose to his feet, panting heavily.
"Are they bo—-both dead?" he asked.
"As dead as nails," answered Snap.
"I thought I was—-was going to be—-be chewed up!"
"It was a narrow escape."
"Say, after this, do you know what I think? I think we had better kill the beasts first and take the pictures afterward!"
"Then we'll not have such good photos," returned the doctor's son.
"Yes; but what good are photos to a fellow if he gets killed?" questioned Whopper ruefully.
"We'll have to be more careful, that's all," said Snap.
"What shall we do with the wildcats?"
"Leave them here, for all I care," answered the doctor's son. "The skins are not much good at this time of year and after such handling."
The three boys rested for a while, and then took a picture of the dead wildcats with themselves in the background. So that all might get in the pictures they set their cameras on rocks and worked them by means of threads of black linen.
"I am afraid our shots have scared away all the game in this vicinity," remarked the doctor's son as they, trudged forward once more. And so it seemed, for nothing came into view for the next hour. Then Snap sighted some rabbits, but before he could get a shot the game was out of sight.
At noon they rested in a glade that commanded a fine view of the surrounding country and each of the boys took several time pictures with small lens openings, so as to get sharp outlines.
It was well on toward the middle of the afternoon when they came upon the trail of a deer. It looked to be quite fresh, and this filled them with the hope of catching up to the game.
"We want to be mighty quiet," cautioned Snap, who was in the lead."The wind is uncertain and may carry the slightest sound to the deer."
"It will carry our scent, too," answered Whopper.
"That we can't help and will have to chance."
They followed the trail for fully half a mile, through something of a hollow between the mountains. Here they came on quite a pond, much to their surprise. The pond was filled with lilies and other flowers, and on one side was a series of rocks leading to quite a cliff.
"What a beautiful spot for a cabin!" cried Shep, forgetting all about the deer, for a moment.
"Why not take some pictures?" suggested Snap. "We may not come this way again."
The doctor's son was willing, and they took several views, one ofWhopper with his hand full of water lilies.
The trail of the deer led around the rocky elevation, and the three young hunters were moving through some low brushwood when of a sudden they heard a noise ahead of them.
"What's that?" asked Whopper.
"Bless me if I know," whispered the doctor's son. "Get your guns ready."
"Here comes a deer!" shouted Snap, and an instant later a magnificent buck burst into view, rushing around the other end of the cliff. It appeared and disappeared so quickly that to get a shot was all but impossible.
"Well, of all the chumps!" cried Snap in disgust. "Why didn't somebody let drive?"
"Why didn't you?" asked Shep.
"I couldn't—-the rocks were in the way."
"Well, the rocks were in my way, too."
"How can a fellow shoot at a streak of greased lightning?" askedWhopper. "That buck was making a hundred miles a minute!"
"Well, that's the end of that game," muttered Snap, much crestfallen."Boys, it looks as if we were going to be skunked to-day."
"Oh, we've got a couple of hours yet," said the doctor's son. "But I guess we had better turn back toward camp. We don't want to miss our way in the dark."
"Let us go on a little," said Whopper. "I imagine that buck got scared at something, and I'd like to know what it was."
"Maybe a bear," said Snap. "And if it is, you can be sure Mr. Bruin will walk right away from us while we are thinking about a shot," he added bitterly. He was disgusted to think they had allowed both the rabbits and the deer to get away from them.
All of the boys were curious to know if anything had really frightened the buck, and they went forward, but this time more cautiously than ever. Passing the cliff, they came to a hillside, overgrown with cedars and brushwood, with many loose stones between. Here they had to progress even more slowly, for walking was treacherous and none of them had a desire to twist an ankle or break a leg.
"I don't see a thing," said the doctor's son presently. "It's a mighty lonely place, isn't it?"
"I fancied I saw something move, just beyond yonder clump of cedars," said Whopper, pointing with his hand.
"Whopper is seeing things," said Snap, laughing. "I guess the wildcats and the deer got on his nerves."
"Well, don't believe me if you don't want to," answered Whopper rather testily.
"We'll see if there is anything in it, anyway," answered the doctor's son. "But I am not going any farther than those cedars. I am getting tired—-and it is high time we turned back, unless we want to remain away from camp all night."
"No, I want to get back, too," answered Snap. "Sleeping out of doors is all well enough once in a while, but I prefer to be under some kind of a roof, even if it's only canvas."
The three boys moved forward once again, each with his gun ready for use, should anything worth shooting appear. They came up to the cedars and were then able to look beyond, where the mountain side was full of rocks, with numerous holes between.
"Oh!" yelled Snap at the top of his lungs. "Look!"
All gazed in the direction indicated, and for once they were fairly rooted to the spot. Before them, on a flat rock, stood a large and magnificent lion, gazing boldly at them.
For fully ten seconds the lion did not move, and during that time the young hunters stood spellbound. Then the foreign monarch of the forest turned and like a flash disappeared into a hole on the mountain side.
"Did—-did—-was it really a lion?" gasped Whopper when he could speak.
"It certainly was—-and a big one, too," answered the doctor's son.
"But here?" began Snap. "We don't have lions in America."
"It must be the one that got away from the circus!" cried Shep.
"To be sure! Why didn't I think of that?" came from Whopper. "Sure as you're a foot high that is the circus lion. But how did he get away out here?"
"That's easy to explain," answered the doctor's son. "He left town and took to the woods, and his quest for food brought him here."
"And it was the lion that scared the buck," said Snap.
"More than likely. And he scared us, too. Why didn't you shoot at him?"
"Why didn't you?"
"I guess we were all about paralyzed; I know I was," declared Whopper. "I didn't come out to hunt lions! Ugh! Maybe we had better get away from here. You can't kill a lion with a shotgun—-you need a rifle, and a heavy one at that."
"Three heavy charges of buckshot would discourage any lion, I think," answered Shep. "At the same time, we don't want to run the risk of being torn to pieces by such a beast."
"Boys, I've got an idea!" cried Snap suddenly. "Maybe it won't work out, but we might try it."
"To kill the lion?"
"No, to capture him alive, and turn him over to the circus folks for that reward."
"What is the idea?"
"Let us dig a big pit here among the rocks and bait it with the two dead wildcats. We can drag the wildcats on the ground around here and to the pit, and maybe the lion will follow the trail up and fall into the pit."
"He'll be very obliging if he does that," said Whopper with a laugh."I guess lions are as cautious as any wild beasts."
"He'll follow the trail if he gets hungry enough," said the doctor's son. "I think the idea is a good one, and I vote we follow it out at once.
"But to dig a pit will be lots of work," said Whopper. "Can't we find some ready-made hole that will do?"
Retreating still farther, and keeping their eyes and ears wide open for the possible reappearance of the monarch of the forest, the three young hunters at length found a hole that suited them. The bottom was filled with loose stones and decayed leaves, but these they soon cleaned out. Then, while Whopper went off for the dead wildcats, Snap and Shep made the hole still deeper. They removed the stones until they came to something of a small cave, and had to take care, for fear of tumbling in.
"I think that will hold the lion, if he deigns to come this way," said the doctor's son.
Over the top of the opening they placed some light brushwood, that would easily sink with the weight of any big beast, and in the center placed one of the dead wildcats. The other they dragged in a circle around the hole, and then let it fall to the bottom.
"That will give the beast something to eat, in case he is captured," said the doctor's son. "We don't want him to starve on our hands."
"I've got another idea," said Snap. "Why not fix one of the cameras so it will go off and take a picture, in case the lion touches a certain string? Mr. Jally told me how it could be done."
"A good idea!" cried Shep. "We'll do it right away. Only we don't want any flashlight, for that would scare the lion away."
"No; we'll have to run the risk of having the camera worked in the daylight."
It was dark by the time their task was accomplished. They knew that they could not get back to camp, yet none of them had any desire to remain in the vicinity of the lion.
"He might take it into his head to eat us up instead of the wildcats," said Whopper earnestly.
"Right you are," responded Shep. "We'll get as far away as we can."
They tramped for at least two miles, and during that time passed a mountain brook that was strange to them. They tried to get some fish, but were unsuccessful.
"We are skunked, and no mistake," said Snap dolefully. "Not even one fish or a rabbit for supper!"
"I am going to beat around the trees for something," said the doctor's son. "Shoot at anything that flies."
He walked ahead, and the others kept their guns in readiness. But all he stirred up were a few small birds not worth laying low.
"Lucky we saved a little of the grub," said Whopper. "If we hadn't we'd go to bed supperless."
"I am going to roost in a tree to-night, to keep out of the reach of that lion," said Snap.
All agreed that this would be a good thing to do, and after dividing what remained of the food brought along, and getting a drink at a spring, they selected a tree that suited their purpose and mounted to the thickest of the limbs.
"Not a very comfortable bed," was Shep's comment. "But better than falling into that lion's clutches."
"Shall we go back to the pit in the morning?" asked Whopper.
"No; let us go to camp first, and see how Giant and Tommy are making out," said the doctor's son. "Most likely they'll be worrying about us."
To keep from falling, the three young hunters tied themselves fast in the tree. They tried to sleep, but this was almost impossible, and the most each got were fitful naps, with many dreams of the lion. All thoughts of other game were, for the time being, banished from their minds.
At daybreak they descended to the ground and started for camp without waiting to shoot something for breakfast. They calculated they could get back before noon, and then they would eat a big dinner at their leisure.
All thought they had the "lay of the land" well fixed in their minds, and so they did not advance with the caution they might otherwise have taken. As a consequence, they presently made a false turn, and this brought them to a part of the mountains that was exceedingly rocky and rough.
"Say, we can't get through here," declared Whopper at last. "Why, it's worse than the Rocky Road to Dublin!"
"I believe we are off the right trail," returned Snap. "It seems to me our camp must be in that direction," and he pointed to their left.
"Perhaps you are right," said the doctor's son. "Anyway, we can't get through here. We'll ruin our shoes and run the risk of breaking our necks."
"Let us walk to the left," said Snap, and they turned back a short distance. As they did this, they started up a number of rabbits and, eager for some game, each blazed away, and as a consequence two of the creatures were brought low.
"Not much, but something," said the doctor's son.
They pressed on, soon coming to some rocks that were quite smooth.
"Be careful here," cautioned Snap. "A tumble would be a nasty thing.There is a cliff just below us."
He and the doctor's son went ahead and Whopper followed. The rocks were even more slippery than they had anticipated. The doctor's son was about to advise going back and walking around the cliff, when Whopper called out:
"A deer! I see a deer!"
"Where?" asked the others in a breath.
"Over yonder! I am going to give him a shot!"
In great excitement Whopper stood upright on the smooth rocks, raised his shotgun and pulled the trigger. But the deer was not hit, and a moment later disappeared from view.
The report of the shotgun was followed by a yell from Whopper. The weapon, had kicked back and sent him sprawling. Now he was rolling over and over on the smooth rocks, directly toward the dangerous cliff below him.
"Stop Whopper, or he'll go over the cliff!"
It was the doctor's son who uttered the words. He was high up on the rocks and could do nothing to save his chum.
Snap heard and understood, for he saw Whopper rolling rapidly toward the cliff. If the youth went over, a sheer drop of twenty or thirty feet awaited him—-with more rocks below.
In this moment of peril, for Snap to think was to Whopper was very dear to him, and he resolved to do all he could to save his chum, even at the risk of his own life.
He let his gun drop and ran over the rocks to where Whopper was rolling over and over. Then he caught him by the foot and threw himself flat, clutching tenaciously at a single stone that arose sharply above those around it. Snap's grip was good, and for the moment Whopper's progress was stayed.
"Don't move!" called out Snap as soon as he could catch his breath."Press down on the rocks for all you are worth!"
Whopper understood and pressed down, and thus both boys lay quiet for several seconds. Whopper was but three feet from the edge of the cliff and Snap was just above him. The doctor's son was to the right, in a spot that was a comparatively safe one.
"The—-the gun kicked!" gasped Whopper when he could speak.
"Yes, I know," answered Snap. "But be careful, or you'll go over the cliff yet!"
Whopper screwed his head around and gazed in the direction of the yawning gulf below him, and his face changed color.
"Gosh! We'll have to get out of this," he murmured.
"Crawl toward Shep; but take it slowly and be careful," directedSnap. "Shall I help you?"
"No, I can do it alone," was the answer.
Both boys crawled like snails over the smooth rocks until they gained the spot where the doctor's son rested. Whopper drew a long breath of relief.
"I'm glad I didn't take that tumble," he whispered hoarsely. He could hardly speak, and his limbs trembled slightly.
"It was a good thing Snap stopped you," said Shep.
"That's what—-and I am mighty thankful, Snap," replied Whopper gratefully.
"Well, we'll have to go back, that is all there is to it," remarked the doctor's son after a pause, during which they looked across the rocks in perplexity. "I thought sure we could go this way, but it seems as if we can't."
To climb down the rocks was as great a task as it had been to climb up, and by the time they reached the bottom all were thoroughly hungry. It now lacked but an hour and a half of noon.
"We'll never get to camp by dinner-time," declared Snap. "And I'm not going to do without breakfast and dinner, too. I move we light a fire and cook those rabbits. I've got a little coffee left, enough for three weak cups, I guess."
The others agreed, and reaching a comfortable spot, they cut a little wood and made a fire. Then they sat down to rest while the skinned and cleaned rabbits were broiling. Snap made the coffee and, though rather weak and without milk and sugar, they drank it eagerly. They had a little salt for the rabbits, but that was all. But hunger and fresh air are great appetizers.
The scant meal at an end, they resumed their journey, the doctor's son taking the lead. They moved in a semicircle around the base of one small mountain and then reached a rather broad mountain torrent.
"Hello, here's a surprise!" cried Snap. "I had no idea such a big brook flowed through these parts."
"Nor I," added Shep. "Looks as if there might be good fishing here."
The boys noted the location of the brook, so that they might visit it another day, and then pushed on as before. They reached a slight rise and all concluded that their camp was directly to the west.
"In that case all we'll have to do is to follow the sun," declaredWhopper.
"Right you are," responded the doctor's son.
"How far do you calculate it is?"
"Not more than two miles."
"It may be a little more," said Snap. "But not much."
They plunged into the woods once more, and had hardly proceeded a hundred yards when they heard some partridges drumming. It was a chance for another shot, and they hurried forward with guns ready for use.
"I see them!" cried Snap, and blazed away, and the others followed suit. They were unusually lucky, for five of the birds fell, either dead or fatally wounded. Soon they had the game in their bags.
"There! that is something like!" cried Snap. "They'll make fine eating." And he smacked his lips. He loved partridge meat very much.
They seemed to be getting deeper and deeper into the woods. The trees around them were so dense that it was almost impossible to see the direction of the sun. Several times they came to a halt to look around.
"What do you make of it?" asked Snap.
"I don't like it," answered the doctor's son emphatically. "First thing we know we'll be lost."
"Just what I was thinking."
"We were to follow the sun," came from Whopper.
"Can you see it?"
"Once in a while, and not very clearly at that."
"Tell you what we might do," suggested Shep. "Climb a big tree and take a look around."
This was considered a wise suggestion, and they started to carry it out. A tree was selected, and the others gave Snap a boost to the lower branches. Then up went the youth to the top, slowly but surely.
"Well, what do you see?" demanded the doctor's son, after having given his chum a chance to look around.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?" echoed Whopper blankly.
"Nothing but woods and mountains, and a brook or two. I don't see a thing that looks like a camp anywhere."
"Oh, it must be ahead of us," insisted the doctor's son.
"All right—-you come up and locate it," grumbled Snap.
Shep came up and so did Whopper, and all three of the lads gazed longingly, first in one direction and then in another. Nothing but what Snap had mentioned greeted their eyes.
"Boys, we are lost!" cried Whopper.
"Oh, no, we're not lost—-we are here," answered Snap. "The camp is lost."
"It's the same thing—-so far as we are concerned."
"I think that is Firefly Lake," said Shep, pointing to a hazy spot in the distance. "And if it is, then our camp may lay around on the upper side of this mountain."
"That may be true."
"Shall we try to walk it?"
"Might as well, Shep. We don't want to stay here all night."
"And we don't want to walk two or three miles out of our way," put in Whopper. "I'm getting mighty tired—-not having had a good rest last night."
"We are having one adventure on top of the other," said the doctor's son with a grim smile. "Well, is it go forward or stay here?"
Nobody wanted to stand still, and so they descended to the ground and moved off in the new direction settled upon. All were fagged out, so progress was slow. They encountered some squirrels and Snap brought down two and stowed them away with his partridge.
"There's a cat!" cried Shep suddenly, and ran forward. Then of a sudden he stopped and smiled, while Whopper and Snap roared.
"Better give that cat a wide berth," suggested Snap, "unless you want to put a whole perfumery shop to shame." And they did give the animal a wide berth, for it was a skunk, and one "ready for business," as Snap afterward expressed it.
By nightfall they were still deep in the woods. All were now exhausted, and coming to a fallen tree Snap dropped to rest and so did his chums.
"Boys, we have missed it," said the doctor's son seriously. "I must confess I haven't the least idea where our camp is!"
"And that means we'll have to stay out in these woods all night," returned Whopper.
"More than likely."
The prospect was not a pleasant one for the three boy hunters. It was not that they were afraid over the fact that they were lost in the woods on the mountain side. But they knew that Giant and Tommy would be greatly worried over their absence, and it was possible, yes, probable, that the two lads might have trouble with Ham Spink and his cronies.
"Ham will be as mad as a hornet if he had much trouble finding his boat," said Snap, in talking the situation over. "And the first thing he'll think of will be to get square."
"Well, if we can't get back we can't get back, and that is all there is to it," answered the doctor's son philosophically. "We've got to make the best of it."
"And then that lion——-" added Whopper. But to this the others merely shrugged their shoulders.
They found a spot that seemed as good as any, and collecting some dry sticks built a camp fire and made themselves a supper. They were footsore and weary and glad to rest. Inside of an hour after eating all of the lads fell asleep, and each slept soundly until morning.
Snap was the first to awaken, and, letting the others rest, he replenished the camp fire and got breakfast ready. There was a sameness about their food that was not very appetizing, but this could not be helped.
"When I get back I'm going to live a whole day on pancakes and beans and bacon," said Whopper. "No more rabbits for me, or partridge, either."
"That's the one drawback to camping out," returned the doctor's son."One does get awfully tired of eating game."
It was again a question of how to proceed, and once more they mounted a tree to take observations. They now saw two columns of smoke arising on the air, not a great distance off.
"Our camp fire and that of the Spink crowd!" exclaimed Snap. "I'll wager a button on it."
"I believe you are right," answered Shep. "We'll make for the nearest of 'em, anyway."
They set off at a brisk pace, taking as direct a route as the nature of the ground permitted. On the way they came to a large patch of huckleberry bushes and found the berries ripe and luscious.
"Let's pick some," said Whopper. "Then we can make huckleberry dumplings, or something like that."
"What about huckleberry pie?" suggested Snap.
"Great!"
They stopped long enough to pick several quarts of the berries, stowing the fruit away in one of the cleaned-out game bags. Then on they went as before.
Soon they broke through the woods into a clearing, and on the opposite side of this saw a camp, with several boys lolling around a camp fire. They were members of the Spink crowd and included Dick Bush and Carl Dudder.
"Say, where did you come from?" demanded Carl Dudder as he espied them and leaped to his feet.
"From the woods," answered Shep calmly.
"What do you want?"
"Nothing, Dudder, excepting to pass."
"Huh! You needn't look so innocent-like, Shep Reed! We know what you did to our boat," put in Dick Bush.
"What did we do to it?" asked Whopper.
"You know well enough. Think you're smart, don't you?" growled Carl.
"We know what you were going to do to our boat," put in Snap.
"What?"
"You heard what I said. We only got ahead of you, that's all."
"We'll fix you for it, don't you worry," said Carl with a cunning leer.
"Take care that you don't get into trouble," was Shep's answer.Then he walked around the camp fire and his chums followed.
"Where are you going?" asked one of the other members of the Spink crowd.
"That is our business."
At this answer the other lads merely scowled. There was an awkward pause, and then Shep and his chums moved on and plunged into the woods beyond the camp fire.
"They are a real sociable bunch," was Whopper's sarcastic comment."How I would love to stay with them!"
"I'll wager they fight like cats and dogs," put in the doctor's son. "I don't believe they have one real pleasant day." And he was right; the Spink crowd were usually wrangling from morn to night and already one of the number had left and started for home in disgust.
The boy hunters had the best part of half a mile farther to go, but this they soon covered and then came to an opening that looked familiar to them. Close at hand was their own camp. As they approached they heard loud talking.
"You clear out, Ham Spink, and leave us alone," came in the voice of Giant. "We don't want you around here. And we don't want you, either, Ike Akley."
"We'll leave when we please," was the answer from Ham Spink.
"We aren't going to hurt you," said the boy named Ike Akley, another of the Spink contingent.
"We don't want you around."
"Got anything good to eat?" demanded Ham coolly.
"Not for you."
"We'll not go until you give us something good."
"That's the talk!" cried Akley.
Let's take a look around and see if we can find any cookies!" said Ham.
"You leave our things alone," said Giant firmly.
"Bah! You fellows didn't leave our boat alone, so why should we leave your things alone?" growled Ham.
"I won't have you looking through our things," cried Giant.
He stepped up in front of Ham, who was much taller and heavier. At the same time Tommy ran to a distance and picked up two good-sized stones.
"You touch him or the things and I'll throw these!" cried the boy from the circus. "And I'll set my dog on you, too!"
"You little rat, you!" roared Ham. "Don't you dare to interfere with me."
"I'll take care of the kid!" cried Ike Akley, and strode toward Tommy. But in a twinkling the boy from the circus had leaped into a tree and was safe among the branches. The stones he had put in his pockets, but now he brought them forth again.
"Just remember what I said!" he exclaimed. "I'm a good shot, too!"
"We'll get the best of 'em, and take what we please!" cried HamSpink.
"Will you?" called out Shep, advancing into the opening, with his gun in his hands. "I rather guess not."
Ham looked around, and so did Ike Akley. When both saw the doctor's son, Snap and Whopper, and all with their guns in their hands, they fell back and grew a trifle pale.
"Thought you were going to rob us, eh?" said Shep sternly.
"N—-no," stammered Ham. "We—-er—-we were only going to take a—-er—-cookie or two, if you had 'em."
"Well, you'll not take a thing, so clear out!"
"You—-you took our boat," said Ham.
"And you were going to take ours, only you didn't find it," said Snap with a grin.
"You hadn't any right to touch our boat."
"See here, Ham, don't talk like a child. After all you did to harm us in the past we've got a right to do almost anything to you, and you know it," said the doctor's son. "Now you clear out and leave us alone."
"You've been following us," put in Ike Akley.
"Not at all."
"Then why did you come away out here to camp?"
"Because we chose to come. Now, clear out—-and stay away!"
A wordy war lasting several minutes followed. It was plainly to be seen that the shifting of the boat had filled Ham Spink with rage, and he was unusually anxious to "square up" with the four boy hunters. But he could do nothing, and at last he and his crony withdrew.
"I am glad you arrived," said Giant. "If you hadn't I am afraid those fellows would have gotten the best of us."
"I would have shied rocks at them," said Tommy, who had come down from the tree. "They may be bigger than I am, but I guess I could outrun 'em," and at this remark the others had to smile.
"More than likely they'll come back some time," said Snap. "And they'll bring the others with them. We'll have to remain on guard. But, Tommy, I've got great news."
"What is that?"
"We've spotted a lion—-the one that got away from the circus."
"A lion!" ejaculated Giant.
"Yes; and we are hoping to trap the beast and get the reward offered for its return," said Whopper.
Giant and Tommy listened with interest to what the others had to tell about the wildcats, the deer and the lion, and also about the stop at the Spink camp. The story about the lion interested Tommy deeply.
"Casso will be glad to get that lion back," he said. "And if you capture him alive he ought to be willing to pay well for it."
Giant and Tommy had had a rather quiet time in camp. They had hunted and fished a little, and Giant had taken some photos and developed some films and plates and printed a few pictures. The photographs had turned out well, and the young hunters were correspondingly proud of them.
"I think my father will be much pleased," said the doctor's son. "I am sure they are right in line with what he wanted. But we must get a good many more."
"How about your watch, Shep?" asked Whopper.
"I declare, I forgot about it—-thinking of that lion," answered the doctor's son. "We'll have to go to that lonely cabin and see if I can't get it back from that crazy hermit—-if he is around."
A day's rest seemed to make Snap and Shep feel as lively as ever, but Whopper declared that he was still tired out, and, besides, he had scraped an ankle on the rocks and this was quite sore. He said that he was willing to take it quiet for at least a day or two more.
"We'll have to see about that lion, and about that hermit," declaredShep. "Supposing we leave you and Tommy in camp this time, and takeGiant along?"
"All right," said Whopper.
"Do you think you can manage—-if the Spink tribe come to bother you?" asked Snap.
"I think so—-unless they come at night."
"You'll have to risk that."
"Wags will watch out at night," said Tommy. "He's better as a watch dog at night than he is in the daytime."
It was decided that the boys should try first to find out if the lion had been trapped. Then they were to journey to the lonely cabin in the woods. Not knowing how long they would be away. They took with them a fair stock of provisions and also a good supply of matches. They also took new films and plates for their cameras. Fortunately, in spite of the rather rough experiences of the boys, none of the picture-taking machines had been damaged, beyond having the leather covers scratched, and this did not matter.
"They don't look so well," said Shep. "But they'll do the work, and that's what we want."
The doctor's son, with Snap and Giant, started early on the following morning. Giant was glad to get away from the camp once more, and whistled a merry tune as they hurried along. They cut around the Spink camp, not wishing to meet their enemies.
"No use of letting them know we are gone," said Snap. "If they did, they'd be sure to go and bother Whopper and Tommy at once—-and two couldn't do much against that whole crowd."
Snap and Shep had fixed the direction well in their mind and studied the position of the sun, so that they might not go astray. Having left the Spink camp behind them, the three boys struck out in a bee line for the spot where they had left the pit with the dead wildcats as bait. They made good progress, and stopped less than half an hour for lunch at midday.
"We ought to reach there before nightfall," said the doctor's son."That is, unless we get turned around again."
"I think we are going straight," answered Snap. "But it may be farther than you think."
While tramping along they scared up several rabbits, and Giant brought down one of these. But game appeared to be scarce and nothing else came to view.
It was just five o'clock when they reached a clearing that looked familiar to Snap and Shep.
"That pit is just beyond here," said the doctor's son. "We'd better go slow—-in case that lion hasn't been caught and is at large."
The others took the advice and advanced with caution. A fringe of brushwood hid the pit from view. On the other side of the clearing was a dense forest of pines and hemlocks.
"Well, I never!"
It was the doctor's son who uttered the exclamation. He was slightly in advance and had peered over the bushes.
"What is it?" asked Snap in a low tone.
"Look, but don't make any noise."
Snap and Whopper pressed forward and looked. What they saw thrilled them greatly.
On the edge of the pit was a fair-sized black bear. He was sniffing at the carcass of the wildcat that rested on the tree branches laid over the mouth of the opening.
"A chance for a fine shot!" whispered Giant a bit nervously.
"Wait—-we'll get a picture first!" said the doctor's son. "But keep quiet!"
The others understood, and, hardly daring to breathe, the three lads swung their cameras into position, got them ready for use, and spread out among the bushes to take some snapshots.
The bear was a cautious animal and slowly he circled the pit, sniffing longingly at the carcass so close at hand. Evidently he desired a meat diet for a change and wanted to get the wildcat very much, but did not quite trust the tree branches and what might be underneath.
Each of the lads got what he thought was a good picture, and then Snap and Giant looked at Shep and touched their guns. But the doctor's son did not see them, for he was looking wildly at something between the trees on the other side of the clearing.
"What do you see?" whispered Snap.
"Hush!" answered the doctor's son. "Look for yourself."
Snap and Giant gazed in the direction pointed out, and it must be confessed that the hair of the smaller youth literally rose on end. There, between two trees, crouched the lion that had escaped from the circus. The eyes of the monarch of the forest were fastened on the bear, and his tail was swaying from side to side, showing that he was getting ready for a leap.
"Shall we—-we shoot?" asked Snap. He was so agitated he could hardly speak.
"Why not take a picture?" asked Shep, who had his camera still in his hand.
"All right—-but we don't want that lion to—-to come this way."
"Not much!" put in Giant, and it must be confessed that his voice trembled a good deal. To face a deer or even a bear was one thing; to face a powerful lion was quite another.
Slowly the lion came out from between the two trees. The bear now had his head turned the other way, so he was not aware of the approach of the enemy.
It made a magnificent picture, and for the moment the boys forgot their own peril and each took two snapshots, one with the lion almost on top of the bear.
Scarcely had they clicked the shutters of the cameras the second time when a blood-curdling roar rent the air, and the lion made one grand leap for the bear. But as this happened bruin chanced to turn slightly, and with a movement wonderful in such a bulky animal the bear sprang to one side. The lion missed his would-be prey and slid forward, directly into the mass of tree limbs covering the pit.
"He's going into the hole!" cried Snap. "Look!"
All gazed on the scene and saw that Snap was right. Unable to stop himself, the lion had crashed down between the tree limbs and was now struggling vainly to reach firm ground once more. The bear backed away and then, turning, sped off among the trees, not over a dozen yards from where the young hunters were in hiding.
"The bear—-he's coming this way!" yelled Snap.
"Shoot him!" screamed Giant. And he brought around his gun.
All tried to get a shot, but the trees were too thick, and in a few seconds the bear was out of sight, crashing down the brushwood as he went.
He was badly frightened, and with good cause, for a lion was a new enemy for him.
As the bear disappeared the boy hunters turned their attention again to the lion. The monarch of the forest was doing his best to climb over the tree limbs, which turned and bent between him.
"Shall we shoot him?" queried Snap. "If he gets loose."
"There he goes!" shouted Shep.
As the doctor's son spoke they heard a tree limb snap in twain. For one instant the lion clung to the broken end, then, with a roar, the beast sank out of sight into the pit.
"We've got him! We've got him!" shouted Snap, and his heart gave a wild bound of pleasure.
"Don't be too sure," cautioned the doctor's son. "Wait—-keep your gun ready for use."
"That's it—-he may get out of the pit," came from Giant. "Don't take any risks. He could kill a fellow in a minute, if he got the chance!"
They waited, each with his gun ready. Down in the pit they heard the lion growling and slashing around. Evidently he was doing his best to get out of the hole.
"I'll bet he's mad," said Snap.
"One of the dead wildcats is with him," said Snap. "That will give him something to eat."
"He'll not think of eating just now," answered the doctor's son."He knows he is in a bad fix."
They waited a minute longer and then the lion became quiet. At last the three boy hunters ventured into the clearing and Shep, with his gun raised, walked slowly to the edge of the pit.
Suddenly a fearful roar rent the air, echoing far and wide across the mountains. The lion had discovered the doctor's son. His mane bristled and he showed his cruel teeth to the full.
"Can he—-do you think he can get out?" asked Snap.
"Hardly, or he'd be out already," answered Shep. "Let us pull those branches away. They might give him some sort of a foothold."
All three of the boys came up and gazed down on the captured beast. They hauled the tree branches away and threw the second dead wildcat into the pit. Snap did this, and it seemed to cause the lion some surprise. He shut his mouth, his eyes began to blink, and presently he bent down and commenced to feed on one of the carcasses.
"He knows he is a prisoner," cried Snap. "See, he's acting just as if he was in the circus." For the monarch of the forest had laid down, with the meat between his heavy fore paws.
"I've got an idea," said Shep, looking around. "There are a great number of flat stones on the mountain side. Let us shove them down here and pile up a sort of wall around the top of the pit. That will surely keep the lion in."
This was considered a good suggestion, and all the lads set to work without delay. Some of the stones were so large it took two to lift them. They made an excellent wall, and inside of an hour the boys had a barrier around the top of the pit three feet high.
"I don't think he'll get out in a hurry," said Shep. "But to make sure we can cut some poles and lay them over the stones and pile more stones on top."
"Humph! Why didn't you mention the poles first?" said Snap.
"I didn't think of it, Snap."
The saplings were cut and placed in a row over the top of the pit and then some stones were put on top of these. Evidently the lion did not like to have his light and air cut off, and he commenced to roar again. But this the boys did not mind, for they now knew they had him fast.
It goes without saying that all the boys were delighted over their catch.
"We'll have to get word to the circus folks as quickly as possible," said Snap. "But where the show is now I don't know."
"Probably Tommy knows the route the circus was to take," answered the doctor's son.
"He does, for he spoke to me about it," put Giant. "But I have forgotten the towns and dates."
"Do you know what I'd like to do before going on to that lonely cabin?" went on Snap.
"What?"
"Go after that bear."
"Oh, he is probably miles away by this time," said the doctor's son. "He was too scared to stay around here."
"Well, let us go after him, anyway. He went in the direction of the cabin—-that is, partly."
"Well, we'll see in the morning," said Shep.
The three boy hunters went into camp not very far away from the pit holding the lion. Once or twice they went up to view their precious prize, and noted that after eating one of the wildcats the lion stretched out and went to sleep.
"Guess he thinks he's back in the menagerie," said Giant. "Well, let him, if only he'll keep quiet until the circus people take him away."
It was such a warm night they did not bother with a camp fire, but eating some of the food brought along, soon retired and went sound asleep. Once Giant awoke with a start and imagined that the lion was after him, but he soon went to sleep again.
I'm the morning they found the captured lion still resting quietly on the bottom of the pit. He had not touched the second wildcat.
"He'll have plenty of food," said Snap. "But how about water?"
"I was thinking of that," answered the doctor's son. "We'll have to bring some from a spring and lower it to him."
They took the kettle they had brought along and filled it at a spring they had found and lowered this into the pit by means of a piece of fishingline Grant carried. At first the lion roared in rage, but when he saw the water he drank eagerly. They had to fill the kettle three times before he was satisfied. Then they took more water and poured it in a hollow on one side of the pit bottom.
"Now he won't go thirsty for a long time," said Shep.
They cooked themselves a good breakfast and a little later set off across the hills in the direction of the end of Firefly Lake. It was their purpose to get to the lake by noon if possible, and then strike out along the rocky watercourse leading to Lake Cameron.
"We'll have to be careful how we tackle that hermit," said the doctor's son. "He may be the craziest kind of a lunatic."
"I've got an idea," said Snap. "Wouldn't it be a good idea to wait until night and then crawl up to the cabin while he is asleep?"
"It may be—-if he didn't take us for robbers and act worse than ever."
"Why not try him in the daytime first, and then, if you can't get the watch, go back at night?" said Giant.
"He may prowl around at night," suggested Shep. "And, remember, he may not have the watch at all—-it's all guesswork."
It was an exceedingly warm day, and when it was near noon all three of the young hunters were glad enough to lie down in the shade and rest. Game appeared to be as scarce as the day before and all they shot were some rabbits and one squirrel.
"We've got to do better than this before we go home," said Shep.
"If we only knew what had become of that bear!" sighed Snap.
"Yes, if we only did!" murmured Giant.
It was so pleasant in the shade that none of the boys could get up ambition enough to go on until they had taken a nap. Then they went up a hill slowly, carrying their coats over their shoulders.
"If it's hot here, what must it be in town?" said the doctor's son.
"About ninety in the shade!" cried Snap.
At the top of the hill they took another rest. Here there was a little breeze, for which they were thankful.
"There is the lake!" cried Giant, pointing to a sheet of water below them. "One good thing, it will be easier going downhill than it was coming up."
"I vote we go in for a good swim when we reach the lake," said Snap."What do you say, Shep?"
"I'd rather get to that cabin, before it is too late. But I'll take a ten-minutes' dip, if you wish."
So it was agreed, and the boys hurried through the woods to the lake shore in a pleasant frame of mind.
"Listen!" cried Snap presently. "What's that—-a dog?"
All listened and heard a loud barking, coming from the neighborhood of the water.
"I think it's a fox!" cried Giant. "You'll remember, they bark just like that!"
"Let's try to get a photo and a shot!" answered the doctor's son."Nothing like getting pictures of everything," he added.
They increased their speed, and soon found themselves within a hundred yards of the shore of Firefly Lake. The barking had now ceased, and they stood still, not knowing in which direction to turn.
"Something moving over yonder," whispered Giant presently, and nodded with his head down the lake shore.
Making no noise, they went forward again. They had to pass some bushes and rocks, and then came to a point where a spur of land jutted far out into Firefly Lake. It was a rocky and sandy spur, with scarcely any brushwood on it.
"There you are!" said Snap, and pointed to the extreme end of the spur. There, on the rocks, were two large foxes, their noses well in the air, gazing down the lake attentively.
"We've got them," murmured the doctor's son. "Come on, we'll take pictures first and then shoot them!"
He brought around his camera and the others did likewise. They had just snapped the shutters when the foxes turned, saw them, and set up a loud and angry barking and showed their teeth.
"They are coming for us!" yelled Giant, and he was right. Without hesitation, the foxes made several big leaps and came directly for the young hunters!