"I thought as much," said Snap. "He is very bitter against my father."

"It is because of the lumber business—-he wanted the tract of lumber to cut that the Barnaby Company got hold of," went on Jack Dalton. "How are you a-makin' it?"

"Fine!" said Snap, and then he and his chums told of all the game that had been brought down—-they having kept a record in a little book the leader of the gun club carried.

"That's first-class, boys," said the guide. "Couldn't be better. Now, all they got were two wild turkeys, some rabbits and one small deer. I led 'em to a fine herd o' deer, but they wanted to do the shootin' all alone. When it came time to let drive, Felps and one o' the other men got buck fever and shot wild, and most of the deer got away. That was one thing made me sick. They can't shoot fer sour apples."

"And they'll blame their ill luck on you, when they get home," said Whopper.

"More'n likely. But I don't care fer thet. Folks in these parts know what Jack Dalton kin do. Jest you ask Jed Sanborn about it."

"Yes, Sanborn has spoken about you," answered Snap. "He said you had brought down some of the biggest deer and bears in these parts."

"Exactly so, boy, although I don't want to blow about it. Tootin' yer own horn ain't perlite. But I ain't afraid o' what sech a feller as Andy Felps says."

That night Jack Dalton told them the story of a bear hunt, which was more than ordinarily interesting. He said that bears were by no means plentiful in the lake region and yet there were a few around, some of pretty fair size.

"You'll run across one when ye least expect it," said the old hunter. "When that happens, take your time an' shoot to kill. If ye don't, Mr. Bear may come up an' hug you to death, jess fer the fun o' it."

"I am going to set a bear trap," said one of the boys, and told of the plan, which was approved by Jack Dalton.

Before leaving the next morning the old hunter told them where he thought they could bring down a mink or two, and after his departure they set off, to see what luck they might have.

The weather was now getting colder and there was a promise of snow in the air. Yet about ten o'clock the sun broke through the clouds and then it grew a bit warmer.

"A little snow will make hunting very fine," declared Snap, as they trudged along. "As it is now, it is next to impossible to track any big game."

The spot Jack Dalton had mentioned was nearly two miles from their camp, along a rocky watercourse flowing into a small lake between Lake Cameron and Firefly Lake. Here, among the rocks, was a favorite haunt of the mountain brook mink, as they are popularly called.

As they neared the locality, the young hunters looked to their weapons and then advanced with caution. The water, gurgling over the rocks, drowned the sounds of their advance, and so they came upon the mink without being discovered.

Two of the animals were in sight, one on either side of the small stream. As all wanted the honor of bringing down the mink, Shep and Snap fired at one and Whopper and Giant at the other. The aim of the boy hunters was true, and the game dropped down where they stood.

"Fine mink these," declared Snap, after an examination. "Just look at the heavy fur."

"You are right," answered Whopper. "But the fur will he thicker yet later in the season."

With the mink in their game-bags, they pushed on up the tiny watercourse and not long after roused up some partridge, the game going up with a rush that at first scared them. But they shot as quickly as they could, and each had a partridge to his credit.

"This day is opening finely," declared Whopper. "We are bound to get about a hundred birds and animals, I'll wager."

"That's right, pile it on," answered Shep, with a grin. "I thought you had been keeping down lately."

"Oh, a hundred is nothing," said Whopper, airily. "Maybe I'll get that many myself. I once heard of a man who shot two hundred wild turkeys in a day."

"I don't call that sport," put in Giant. "I call that butchery."

"So do I," answered Snap. "Even as it is, I sometimes think we are shooting too much."

"Well, if we don't bring the game down somebody else will," said Whopper.

"Some day they'll have to pass some more laws, protecting game," was Shep's comment. "If they don't, there won't be anything to shoot inside of the next fifteen or twenty years."

"My father said that some folks were advocating a law to stop all deer-shooting for two years or longer," said Shep. "That would give them a chance to multiply."

"Well, I am going to shoot what I can—-now I am out here," said Whopper.



CHAPTER XXIV

HAM SPINK AND THE SKUNK

But the boys' streak of luck came to an end as quickly as it began. Try their best, they could locate no more large game, and had to content themselves with a squirrel and a few fair-sized birds.

"I am getting tired of this," remarked Shep, after they had tramped across several hills. "Let us call it off and get back to camp."

The others were willing, and they turned their footsteps in the direction of the cabin. Half of the distance was covered when Snap stopped his companions.

"Look over on yonder hill," he said. "Isn't that Ham Spink's crowd?"

"It is; and there is Ham in advance," answered Whopper.

"Let us go over and see what they have got," put in Giant, curiously.

The curiosity of the others was also excited, and they turned in the direction Snap had pointed out, and soon came up to one of the rival hunters.

"Hullo!" cried Snap, good-naturedly. "How are you getting along?"

The boy addressed was Dick Bush, and he answered with a scowl.

"Shot any deer lately?" asked Whopper.

"No," was the surly response.

"Got anything at all?" asked Giant.

"One rabbit. Have you anything?" went on Dick Bush, also curious.

"Oh, a few things," was Snap's careless answer, and he winked at his chums.

"We have some birds and a squirrel," said Whopper.

"Oh, we didn't shoot any birds," put in Ham Spink, coming up. "Ain't that fine?" and he held up a medium-sized rabbit.

By this time the whole crowd had surrounded our friends. All the rival campers had were two rabbits and a small woodchuck that was of no account.

"How do you like these?" said Snap, and showed up the mink and the rest of the game.

At the sight of the game, Ham Spink's eyes opened widely, and the others from the rival camp showed their astonishment.

"Where did you get all that game?" asked the leader of the other camp.

"Shot it."

"Not to-day."

"Yes, to-day," answered Giant, proudly.

"Then somebody must have helped you," said am Spink, enviously. "Maybe Jed Sanborn is around."

"No; we brought this game down alone."

"Where did you get the mink?"

"Up that little brook you see yonder."

"I didn't know there was any mink around here," came from Carl Dudder. "Guess I'll look for some myself."

"Well, I wish you luck," said Snap, pleasantly.

"Yes, you wish us a pile of luck!" burst out Ham Spink. "I rather guess you wish we wouldn't bring down a thing!"

"No; I am not so mean, Ham. There is enough for all in these woods."

"Bah! don't tell me!" snorted the dudish youth, and stalked off, followed by two of his cronies.

Ham Spink was dressed in as fine a hunting outfit as he could procure, and his shotgun was an expensive nickel-plated affair—-the kind of a gun some old hunters who know will not have for a gift.

Ham Spink had just caught sight of a small animal, hidden in the long grass of a glade but a short distance away.

"I am going to bring it down, whatever it is!" he cried to Dick Bush. "Keep back!"

"Ham's found something to shoot at!" cried one of the other boys.

They all held back, to give their leader a chance to show his ability. Snap and his chums watched curiously.

"I don't see anything——-" began Giant, and then he burst into a laugh. "It's a skunk!"

"A skunk?" repeated Shep. "If that's so, Ham had better give it a wide berth."

It was indeed a skunk, dark in color and with a bushy tail. As it moved along in the grass it looked somewhat like a large black cat. Excited, Ham Spink ran close, took hasty aim and let fire.

The skunk was hit but not badly wounded. It swished around, and an instant later the dudish young hunter received a stream of liquid over his cheek and shoulder that almost paralyzed him.

"Oh! oh! Take it away!" screamed poor Ham. "Oh, dear me!"

"Phw! what a stench!" gasped Dick Bush, falling back a step or two.

"That's a skunk!" yelled Giant. "Get out of the way—-unless you want your clothing ruined!"

The offensive odor was now so powerful in that vicinity that nearly all of the young hunters fell hack to another position some distance away. In the meantime the skunk ran for the bushes and disappeared from view.

"Oh, dear! Oh, this is—-is fearful!" gasped Ham Spink, putting his thumb and forefinger to his nose. "Wha-what am I to do?"

"Ham has caught it and no mistake!" whispered Snap.

"He'll be as sweet as a bag of bone fertilizer after this," was Shep's comment.

"You'll be able to smell him ten miles off," vouchsafed Whopper. "You'll recognize him in the dark with your eyes closed."

"Hi, you! Don't you make fun of me!" bawled the dudish youth, turning wrathfully on our friends.

"I hope the shooting was good, Ham," said Snap, drily.

"Don't be afraid to bury yourself, Ham, if you feel like it!" added Shep.

"I—-I'll bury you!" stormed the unfortunate youth. "Oh, what a mess!" he groaned. "Dick, what shall I do?"

"I don't know," was the answer. "Only please keep away from me. The—-er—-the odor makes me sick, really it does."

"Huh! I'm sick myself. I didn't know it was a skunk. Why didn't somebody warn me?"

"Take off your clothes and bury them," suggested Giant. "That sometimes takes the smell away."

"Oh, hang the clothes! I'll burn them up!" growled Ham. "What shall I do for myself?"

"Wash yourself with carbolic soap," suggested Shep.

"I haven't any."

"Then take a mud bath," came from Whopper. "After that use common soap, and you'll be rid of the worst of it."

"I suppose you think you've got the laugh on me," grunted Ham Spink. He was about as angry and helpless as he could be.

"Oh, we are weeping for you, Ham!" said Shep. "Come on, fellows!" and he started off and soon his friends followed him.

"Oh, but he does smell prime!" said Whopper, when they were out of bearing. "He'd down a cologne factory in one round!"

"It is certainly awful!" answered Snap. "It was too bad to spoil that nice suit of clothes."

"I am thankful that we didn't meet the skunk," came from Giant.

"I remember meeting a skunk years ago—-when I was a little boy," said Shep. "I thought it was a cat and wanted to pick it up. I think the skunk was getting ready for me when our dog came along and scared the thing away."

Ham Spink was indeed in a sorry plight. The smell was so bad that none of his friends wanted to go near him, and they begged him to keep his distance. In anger he stalked back to his camp, and there took off the almost ruined suit and buried it in the ground for forty-eight hours, which removed the worst of the odor. Following the advice given, he washed himself in a mud paste, allowing the mud to dry on him at the heat of the fire. Later he washed the mud off and used some heavily scented toilet soap, and thus removed the worst of the odor from his person. But it was a good week before he felt as clean as he had previous to the encounter with the obnoxious animal.



CHAPTER XXV

SURROUNDED BY WOLVES

From Jack Dalton the boys had heard of a beautiful silver deer, said to be roaming the woods on the hills back of Firefly Lake, and Whopper and Giant talked a great deal of going after the game and seeing if they could not lay the deer low.

"I know we can do it if only we can spot the animal," said Giant. "And think what a feather it will be in our cap."

"I am going after that deer, even if the others won't go," added Whopper, and so it was finally decided that Whopper and the small youth should go in quest of the silver deer, while Snap and Shep remained at the camp, to try their hands at erecting a trap for beavers and also some traps for birds. It may be added that deep in the woods they had erected a bear-fall and baited the same, but so far no bear had shown himself in that vicinity, although the wolves had stolen the bait on two occasions.

In order to be prepared for big game, Whopper and Giant took along one shotgun and the rifle, and also a hunting-knife. One game-bag was filled with provisions, for they did not know how long the outing would last.

The boys started off in the best of spirits, taking to a trail the old hunter had pointed out to them. There had been a flurry of snow during the night, but this was soon melted by the sun which, at breakfast time, had come out as brightly as ever.

"What a beautiful spot this is!" said Giant, gazing back to the lake before plunging into the woods. "It is strange that so few folks come up here to camp."

"Well, it's lucky for us," answered Whopper. "We shouldn't care for many—-especially of the Andrew Felps kind."

"Oh, don't mention him, Whopper. It makes me angry to think of him, and I don't want my day's fun spoiled."

Soon the vicinity of the lake was left behind, and then the boys began to climb the first rise of ground. Fortunately, the trail was good and they made rapid progress. Arriving at the top of the hill, they gazed around eagerly.

"Nothing in sight so far," said Whopper, after a long pause.

"Well, the day is young yet," was the hopeful answer.

Again they went on, and this time scared up several rabbits and also several animals they could not name, so quickly did they disappear again. The boys did not fire, however, being determined to do nothing to scare the deer away, should the game be within hearing.

When, about noon, they came to a clear spring of water, they were glad enough to sit down and rest and partake of their noonday lunch, washing it down with copious draughts of water.

"Folks can say what they please," remarked Whopper, smacking his lips. "When one is good and dry, nothing is so satisfying as a drink of plain, clear water."

"You're right there, Whopper. How some men can prefer liquor is beyond my comprehension."

"They don't know what is good for them, that's why, Giant."

The boys looked around the spring with care and made out several tracks which they thought might belong to a deer. These led along the trail they were following, and once more the boy hunters moved on, refreshed by the rest and the lunch, and cheered by the hope that they might soon get a glimpse of the game they were after.

Less than a quarter of a mile further on they found that the trail came to an abrupt end in something of a glade at the foot of another hill. There had been a landslide during the summer and this had obliterated the path.

"Here's a go!" cried Whopper, gazing around in perplexity. "I suppose old Jack Dalton didn't know about this landslide."

"We must be careful—-if we go on, Whopper. That land may give way. We don't want to get underground again."

"Not much! Once was enough."

They walked along the hill, and at last came to something that looked a little like a trail. Then they went forward once more, covering a good mile. The vicinity was full of rocks, and they had to pick their way with care, for fear of tumbling down into a crevice, or twisting an ankle.

"This is growing worse, Whopper," said Giant, coming to a halt for breath. "I had no idea it was so rough, had you?"

"No. One thing is certain—-we are not on the trail."

"Just what I was thinking."

"We are getting deeper and deeper into this mess. We'll have to turn back."

"And without that deer! That's too bad!"

"We may see the deer elsewhere."

They walked on a hundred feet further, reaching an opening surrounded by rocks on every side. Here was a tall tree, with branches hanging low to the ground.

"I'm going up into the tree and look around," said Whopper.

He hung his rifle on one of the limbs and began the ascent. Giant did likewise, and soon the pair were close to the top of the tree.

By parting the topmost branches they got a fairly good look of the country for a long distance on every side. They could see the waters of Lake Cameron shimmering in one direction, and the waters of Firefly Lake shimmering in another, and they also caught several glimpses of Rocky River, and some other bodies of water still further away.

"Nothing of the deer," sighed Whopper, after a long look around.

"Let us make sure," came from Giant, and swept every point of the compass with his sharp eyes.

"I see something far to the north of here," he announced. "But what it is I can't make out."

Whopper looked in the direction, but could see nothing clearly.

"Something is moving among the bushes," he said, slowly. "It may possibly be a deer, but I doubt it."

It was rather pleasant in the tree, and they rested near the top for some time. Then, of a sudden, Whopper started up.

"What's that, Giant?"

"What's what?"

"That noise below."

"I don't hear anything."

"I do, and I am going down to see what is doing."

Whopper began to descend and the smaller youth followed him.

"Well, I never!"

"Wolves!"

"Yes, and look at the number!"

The words were true. Under the tree a number of wolves had congregated. There were at least twenty-five or thirty of them, and they were all of good size.

As soon as they saw the boys they retreated a few feet and then began to snarl savagely.

"Say, Whopper, I don't like this," observed Giant, with a grave shake of his head.

"I don't like it myself."

"They don't look extra friendly."

"Friendly? I guess not. They are mighty savage."

"I wonder where they came from?"

"I am sure I don't know. Perhaps from over the mountains. Don't you remember Jed Sanborn telling us of the packs of wolves over near Pine Mountain?"

"Yes."

The two boy hunters had not ventured to the lowest limb of the tree. Now, as Whopper started to step down, one of the wolves, large and savage, leaped up at him with a vicious snarl.

"Not to-day!" cried Whopper, and drew himself up again. "I don't want you to sample my leg!"

"If we only had our guns!" sighed Giant.

"I wanted to get them, Giant. But I don't know if it will do any good—-there are so many of them. One or two less won't count."

The wolves now seemed to grow impatient and snapped and snarled loudly as they crowded around the tree and tried to leap up towards the boys. They were evidently a hungry lot.

"I've got an idea!" said Giant, presently. "I am going to cut a notched stick and reach down for the guns with that."

"Just the thing!" answered his chum. The stick was soon cut, and then both boys went "Fishing" with it. Both the gun and the rifle were hanging up by straps, and it was an easy matter to catch the notch under the straps and hoist the weapons up to where the youths stood.

"Hurrah! So far so good!" cried Giant. "Now then, we'll give the wolves something that will surprise them."

"Yes; but don't forget one thing, Giant. The shots will surely scare the game away from around here, and that will mean good-by to the silver deer—-at least for the present."

"Well, we have got to do something."

"I agree on that."

"I'll take that savage-looking fellow right below us."

"And I'll fire at the one over yonder. Are you ready?"

There was a pause.

"Yes."

"Then fire!"

And the shotgun and the rifle spoke up almost as one piece.



CHAPTER XXVI

SOMETHING ABOUT TRAPPING

When the smoke cleared away the two boy hunters saw two wolves stretched upon the ground, dead. The rest of the pack had retreated, yelping and snarling more frightfully than ever.

"That's the time we did it!" cried Whopper, reloading the rifle, while Giant attended to his shotgun.

"But it hasn't sent them away," was the answer of the smaller youth. "Here they come back!"

Giant was right. Sniffing suspiciously, the remaining wolves came as close to the tree as before. Strange to say, they scarcely paid any attention to those that had been killed.

"Let us fire again," said Whopper, and his companion nodded. Once more the weapons rang out and again two of the wolves dropped. This time the remainder of the pack grew scared and vanished into the brushwood as if by magic.

"They have gone!" cried Giant, excitedly. "I thought that would make 'em skip."

"Don't be so sure about that," was Whopper's reply. "They may be watching us from behind the bushes. If they—-I see one of them now!"

"Let us give them another shot!"

Again the weapons were discharged, both boys thinking it great sport to lay the wolves low. This time two more were hit, but merely wounded. They ran away yelping with pain, and the balance of the pack went after them. Looking from the tree, the boy hunters saw them cross an open space some distance away and then plunge into the woods of the next hillside.

"That finished them," said Whopper, drawing a sigh of relief. "They are now thoroughly scared and I don't think they'll dare to come back."

Nevertheless, the boys remained in the tree for half an hour longer. But the wolves were really gone, and at last they dropped to the ground.

"This ends hunting for to-day," remarked Giant. "It's too bad!"

"Well, we shot something," answered Whopper, grimly, and pointed to the wolves.

"What shall we do with them?"

"Leave them here. But no, let us take the smallest along. The meat will make good bait for the traps."

After that there was nothing to do but to start back for the camp, and this they did without further delay. It was a hard walk and they often stopped to rest. On the way they were fortunate enough to stir up some partridge and brought down three, and also got two rabbits.

"Well, we'll not go back empty-handed, after all," said Whopper.

It was long past dark when they came in sight of the camp-fire, which Snap and Shep were keeping burning brightly on purpose, so that it might light their way.

"Here they come!" cried Snap, and ran forward to meet them. "What's this? A wolf, I declare! Then you didn't find the silver deer?"

"We didn't get a chance," said Giant, and then he and Whopper told their story.

"You can be thankful that you escaped from those wolves," said Snap.

"I thought wolves didn't attack folks excepting in the dead of winter, when they couldn't get anything to eat," remarked Shep.

"That is usually the case," answered Snap. "But once in a while they do as they did to-day—-when there is a large pack of them."

Snap and Shep had made their traps and had some success at fishing, having caught four pike of fair size and also several catfish.

That night came a fall of snow, which covered the ground to the depth of several inches. In the morning it was so cold they were glad enough to hug the fire until nearly noon.

In the afternoon Whopper went out on the lake and soon came back with news.

"What do you think?" he called out. "The Spink crowd is leaving!"

"Breaking up camp?" queried Giant.

"Yes; they are loading everything in their boat."

This announcement produced a mild sensation, and after a consultation, Snap and his chums decided to row across the lake and watch proceedings.

Ham Spink and his cronies were indeed leaving, and in far from a good humor. None of them was a good shot and they did not possess the patience necessary to become good hunters or fishermen. As a consequence they had brought down very little game and caught only a few fish. Their stock of provisions brought from home was running low, and each boy in the camp had voted the outing a failure.

"Going to leave us?" called out Snap, as he and his friends rested on their oars a short distance from the rival camp.

"Yes," was Ham Spink's surly response.

"What's the matter? Don't you like the hunting here?" asked Whopper.

"Oh, don't be so inquisitive!" came from Dick Bush. "I guess you are glad enough to see us go."

"Not at all," said Giant. "You are welcome to stay, so long as you don't interfere with our doings."

"We don't think much of this place," grunted Ham Spink. "It may be good enough in the middle of summer, but not now, when winter is coming on."

"Are you going right home, Ham?" asked Snap.

"What business is that of yours?"

"I thought if you were, you might sell us what stores you have left over."

"We have nothing to sell to you," was the cold reply.

"We might make a trade," put in Shep. "We have got some plump partridge and rabbits to spare."

"Humph! Are you saying that just to tease us?"

"Not at all. Here are the rabbits and the partridge, too," and the doctor's son held them up.

Now, as it happened, Ham Spink and his cronies were very anxious to take some game home, but had nothing but one rabbit and a little squirrel. They gazed longingly at the plump game Shep exhibited.

"Let us take them," whispered Dick Bush. "Nobody will know how we got them."

At this Ham Spink's eyes brightened. He was not above telling an untruth when he felt like it.

"What will you take for what you have?" he called out.

"What have you got?"

The rival campers looked over such provisions as they had left, and enumerated the articles—-sugar, cocoa, flour, some canned goods, and some preserves. Snap and his chums went ashore and investigated.

"We'll trade even," said Snap at last, after talking with his chums. "But on one condition."

"What is that?"

"That you take some letters home for us and deliver them as soon as you arrive."

"All right, we'll do that," said Carl Dudder.

The trade was made on the spot, and the letters written; and on the following morning Ham Spink and his cronies left the vicinity of Firefly Lake. It was the last our friends saw of the dudish youth and his friends for some time to come.

"I think he feels sick all over," remarked Shep, after the other crowd had departed.

"He certainly isn't in high spirits," commented Snap.

"I'll wager a new cap against a balloon that they tell everybody in town they shot those partridge and the rabbits," came from Giant.

"Sure thing!" exclaimed Whopper. "And they'll say they shot about a thousand other things besides. I know 'em. They can all blow to beat the band when they want to."

On the following Monday it was clear and cool, and the boys set out to look at their beaver traps, of which three had been placed in position. To their delight, two of the traps held beavers; and to their astonishment, the third trap held a muskrat.

"Hullo! here is something I wasn't looking for!" cried Snap. "He's a fine haul," he added, looking the muskrat over.

"And the beavers are fine, too," added Shep. "Boys, I think we can count ourselves lucky and no mistake."

"Let us set the traps again," said Whopper, who was excited over the haul. This was done, and the boy hunters returned to their camp well pleased at what they had caught.

"I wish we'd get something in the bear trap," said Giant. The small youth had set his heart on getting a bear before it should be time to return home.

On the day following, Shep and Giant went out after nuts and were gone the best part of the day. When they returned to the camp they were both excited and wanted to see Snap without delay.

"What's it all about?" asked the leader of the gun club.

"We may be mistaken," answered Shep, "but we think we have made a discovery of importance."

"What kind of a discovery?"

"We think we have located the man who set fire to the sawmill and ran away with those documents!" answered Giant.



CHAPTER XXVII

THE DESERTED COTTAGE

Giant's announcement filled Snap with keen interest, and he wanted to know at once all Shep and the small youth could tell.

"We went directly up the lake," said Giant. "Took the road around the rocks that Jed Sanborn showed us. We found the nut trees, and——"

"Never mind the nut trees," interrupted Snap. "Tell me about that man."

"Well, back of the trees is a cleared spot—-maybe it was a farm some years ago, and in the midst of the clearing is an old, half-tumbled-down cottage. We walked over to the cottage and looked in at the window."

"And we saw a man sitting on a box with a barrel before him," put in Shep. "On the barrel he had a board and on the board were spread some papers that the man was looking over. The man was tall and thin, and had red hair and a short, red moustache"

"That tallies with the man who stole the money and the papers!" cried Snap, excitedly. "Did he limp, too?"

"Slightly, with his left foot."

"He must be our man. But what is he doing around here?"

"I don't know," answered Shep. "As soon as he saw us he jumped up and put the papers in his pocket."

"What did you do?" asked Whopper.

"He asked us what we wanted, and Shep told him we were out nutting," said Giant. "Then he asked us who we were."

"Did you tell him?"

"We did," said Shep; "and then we asked him who he was, but he put us off. He said he was out tramping the mountains for his health."

"Did he seem to be staying at the cottage?"

"Yes; at least he had a bag full of provisions with him, and a gun, too."

"Was he alone?"

"He seemed to be."

"Did you see the documents he had, closely?"

"Not very," said Giant. "But we saw something of a map on one of them."

"One of the stolen papers was a map of that lumber tract," said Snap, thoughtfully. "Boys, if that is the rascal who set fire to the sawmill we ought to capture him," he continued.

"That's the talk!" cried Whopper. "But we want to be sure of what we are doing. It won't do to arrest the wrong man."

"If we could only get a look at those papers," said Shep, "they would surely tell the tale."

"Did he look like a guilty man?" went on Snap.

"He acted scared when he saw us, and he got the papers out of sight in a jiffy. And he is certainly tall and thin, and has a red moustache and red hair."

"Well, that fits the rascal who is wanted, pretty closely."

"It's queer that he'd come to a place like this," was Whopper's comment.

"Maybe he thinks it is best to keep in hiding, at least for the present."

"But why doesn't he go elsewhere?"

"He may be afraid to show himself in town, or at a railroad station."

The matter was talked over for an hour, and then it was decided to visit the old cottage as early as possible on the following morning.

"And let us take our guns," declared Snap. "And we'll take a rope, too—-in case we have to tie him up."

The boys could scarcely sleep that night, so excited were they over the prospect ahead. All of them were up at dawn and procured breakfast as quickly as they could. Then the game-bags were filled with provisions, the guns were overhauled, and Snap got the rope he had mentioned.

"Now I guess we are ready," said Shep.

"Wait till I kick out the fire," said Whopper. "Don't want the place to burn up while we are away."

The fire extinguished, they set off on their journey and were soon a goodly distance from the lake. The snow had disappeared and the day promised to be an unusually warm one. They did not look for any game, and when a rabbit crossed their path nobody shot at it.

"We are after other game to-day," observed Snap, grimly.

"If only we have the same success as we had when we caught that nigger," came from Whopper. "That was dead easy."

"I don't think we'll catch him asleep," said Shep. "He is a wide-awake fellow, if nothing else."

On and on they went, covering several miles. They passed the trees that were loaded with nuts, but did not stop, and soon came in sight of the clearing.

"Now go slow," cautioned Snap. "If he sees us from a distance he may take it into his head to run away."

"Maybe one or two of us had better go forward and investigate," suggested Giant.

This was thought a good plan, and Snap and Shep went forward, slowly and cautiously, until they gained the very edge of the clearing.

"I see smoke coming out of the chimney," said Snap. "That would seem to show he is still there."

The door to the old cottage was tightly closed, and growing bolder, the two young hunters walked to it and knocked loudly.

"See that he doesn't slip out the other way," whispered Snap to his chum, and Shep at once ran around to the other side of the building.

As there was no answer to the summons, Snap knocked on the door a second time. Still there was no response.

"Guess I'll go in," he murmured, and pushed the door open.

The apartment beyond was the living-room of the old cottage and a glance showed him a smouldering fire in the fireplace. Nobody was visible.

From the kitchen the boy hunter went into the room beyond and then ran upstairs.

"See anybody?" called Shep, as Snap showed himself at a broken-out window.

"No. Call the others."

Shep did as requested, and soon all of the young hunters were making an investigation of the premises.

"He must have gone away this morning," said Giant. "See how the fire is still burning."

"I wish I knew where he had gone to," said Snap, with a long sigh.

"Perhaps we can find out if we search closely."

In the cottage they found the remains of some meals the stranger had had, and also some scraps of paper, including an envelope addressed to Lusher Barrock.

"I wonder if that is his name?" said Snap.

"More than likely," answered Giant. "Did you ever hear of him before?"

"No."

They tried to put the pieces of paper together, but the effort was a failure.

"Here is where he did some figuring," said Whopper, pointing to the board, which contained numerous pencil marks. "Maybe—-hullo! look here!"

"What's up now?" asked Snap, running forward.

"Here is the name of Andrew Felps!"

"Felps!" came from all of the others in a chorus.

"Can that man have been here?" asked Giant.

"I must say, I don't understand this," came from Snap. "But I have got an idea."

"What is it, Snap?"

"Of course I may be all wrong, but I'll give it to you for what it is worth. Do you remember what my father said about those papers?"

"That they related to a certain patch of timber land?" said Giant.

"Yes; and that the Felps people wanted to get hold of the patch. Well, this Lusher Barrock may be hanging around here trying to sell the papers."

"To sell them?" said Shep, looking puzzled.

"Exactly. They are of no use to him, but they might be of use to Andrew Felps and his lumber company."

"You mean that by getting the papers Felps might keep your folks from cutting down the lumber on that tract?"

"Yes, and more. Felps may have some way of getting hold of the land himself, if these papers are destroyed. I don't know the whole truth of the case, but I know my father wanted the papers and he didn't want Andrew Felps to learn that they were missing."

"Snap, I think you have struck the truth," ejaculated Shep. "I don't know of anything else that would bring this Barrock—-if that's his name—-to this locality. He must be watching his chance to meet Andrew Felps."

"Would Felps be mean enough to buy the papers from him?" asked Whopper. "Why, that would be dishonest!"

"I think that man is mean enough for anything!" burst out Giant, who was not inclined to forget how badly he and his chums had been treated by the individual in question.

"If this is true, Snap, the best thing we can do is to go over to the Felps camp and watch out for this Lusher Barrock," said Shep.

"And that is what I am going to do," answered Snap.

"When will you go?" questioned Whopper.

"As soon as possible."

"We can't get to the camp very well from here. We'll have to go back to Firefly Lake first."

"Do you suppose this Barrock went that way?"

"Maybe he did, or else he knows of some trail over the mountain."

"Well, we can go back to the lake, and then start for Lake Cameron without delay," said Snap, and so it was settled.



CHAPTER XXVIII

THE BOY HUNTERS AND A BEAR

The boys stopped to get dinner and then hurried back to the cabin with all possible speed.

"This has been a long tramp for nothing," was Giant's comment, as they trudged along.

"Oh, I don't think so!" answered Whopper. "I think we have learned a good deal."

On the way back they could not resist the temptation to shoot what game came in their way and thus brought down several rabbits, a squirrel, four quail, and two wild ducks that chanced to show themselves near the end of the lake.

As they neared the cabin they had to pass the bear trap that had been set so many days. They heard a peculiar grunting.

"Listen!" cried Snap, coming to a halt. "What is that?"

"I am sure I don't know," said Shep. "Sounds like some beast in pain."

"Maybe it is something in the trap!" cried Giant, and moved forward on a run, before anybody could stop him.

As Giant drew in sight of the trap something caught his eyes that brought him stock still in wonder.

There, fast in the trap, lay a small bear, and close at hand was another bear, evidently trying to get the prisoner free!

"Look out there, Giant!" sang out Snap, as he, too, saw the situation.

"Two bears, by all that is lucky!" ejaculated Whopper.

At the sounds of the boys' voices the free bear turned swiftly. Evidently he was in a rage, and for a good reason, for the bear in the trap was his mate.

"He is coming for you!" cried Shep. What he said was true; the bear was indeed coming for Giant. He stood up on his hind legs and confronted the young hunter. A moment more and his powerful paw must have knocked Giant down and perhaps have killed the lad.

But Snap had somewhat recovered from his astonishment, and raising his shotgun quickly, he pulled the trigger.

The dose of shot took the bear in the side of the face and stung him so bitterly that he fell back a few steps. But this was only for the moment. Soon he gathered himself once more and then turned upon Snap.

"Shoot him!" cried the young leader of the gun club and a second later came the crack of the rifle that Shep carried. The bullet pierced the bear's side and he rolled over and over in pain.

"Good for you, Shep!" sang out Snap. "Shoot him again, somebody!"

For an answer, both Whopper and Giant fired their shotguns and the bear received both charges in his rump. Again he rolled over and over, uttering a roar that could be heard for a long distance. He tried to arise and did so once, dragging himself toward Whopper, who lost no time in retreating.

By this time Snap was ready for another shot, and growing bolder, he watched his chance, ran in and let the bear have the buckshot directly between the eyes. Then Shep took a second shot also, hitting Bruin in the throat. This was too much for the bear, and with a quiver and a gasp he sank in a heap, and a moment later breathed his last.

"Is he—-he dead?" gasped Giant, after the bear had been quiet for a full minute.

"I think so," answered Snap. "But don't go near him yet—-he may be playing a trick on us."

"I am not going near him."

"The bear in the trap is alive!" called out Whopper, who had just made an examination.

All lost no time in reloading their weapons, and then they peered into the trap. The bear under the logs and stones gave a grunt of pain and rage.

"I'll fix her," said Snap, and, drawing close, let drive at the bear's head. It was a telling shot, and soon the bear stretched out, and then the battle with the two creatures came to an end.

"What a magnificent haul!" cried Giant, after they were certain both bears were dead.

"I wonder what Ham Spink and his crowd would say to this?" came from Snap.

"They wouldn't believe it unless they saw it," returned Whopper. "Boys, do you know what I think? I think we ought to take those bears home."

"Just what I think, too," said Giant. "I want my mother to see them."

"Well, I am willing," answered Snap. "But I think we ought to visit Lake Cameron first and see if we can't find this Lusher Barrock."

"We can stop at Lake Cameron on the way," answered Whopper.

It was late in the day already, and by the time they had dragged the bears to camp it was night. As they sat around the camp-fire they talked matters over and decided to break camp the very next day. They had had about all the hunting they wished for the present, and getting the two bears "topped matters off," as Snap put it.

The bears were loaded into the boat and anchored out in the lake, and then the boys got supper and went to bed. Snap was soon asleep and so were Giant and Shep, and all slept soundly until about midnight, when the leader of the club awoke a start.

"Hullo! what's up now?" he called out, and this cry aroused Shep and Giant.

"What is it, Snap?"

"Where is Whopper?"

"I don't know where he is," answered Snap. "Listen!"

The three did so, and from a distance heard a groan and then a thrashing around in the bushes back of the cabin.

"Something is wrong, that is sure!" gasped Giant. "Whopper must be in trouble!"

"Come on and see," returned Snap, and catching up his gun he ran from the shelter. Shep and Giant were not slow in following.

When they got outside all had become quiet again, and they knew not in what direction to turn. There was no moon, but the stars shone like so many diamonds in the heavens.

"Where is he?" asked Shep, after a breathless pause.

"I don't know," answered Snap. "Hullo, Whopper!" he called out.

There was no reply to his shout and he moved into the bushes cautiously, with the others at his heels. Then, of a sudden, he came upon Whopper, who stood by a bush tugging away manfully.

"Get back!" murmured Whopper. "Get back, you beast! Say, fellows, this is the worst bear of the lot! Down he goes! That makes four bears for yours truly!"

"I know what's the matter!" shouted Snap, lowering his gun. "He has got the nightmare."

"Yes, and got it bad, too," put in Giant. "My! see him hustle with the bush!"

"Shall we wake him up?" asked Shep.

"No—-it may not be good for him," answered Snap.

"Oh, I am going to wake him up!" came from Giant, and before the others could stop him he ran forward and caught Whopper by the arm. "Wake up, Whopper!" he called. "Wake up, old man! You've got 'em bad!"

At first Whopper paid no attention. "Then his struggles with the bush ceased and he opened his eyes and stared about him in bewilderment.

"Wh-what is the matter? Wh-where am I?" he stammered, gazing around stupidly.

"You've been asleep and dreaming," explained Snap. "You thought you were after a bear."

"So I was—-after a dozen bears. Did I—-I kill any?"

"There are no bears here. You were only dreaming."

"Oh!" Whopper rubbed his eyes. "No bears at all?"

"None but what we shot yesterday. You went to sleep and the next thing we knew you were out here, pulling at this bush."

"Where am I?"

"Back of the cabin," put in Shep. "You had better go to bed again."

"And please don't dream of any more bears," added Giant, with a grin.

Whopper scratched his head in perplexity.

"Funny how I got here! I don't understand it at all. Oh, but say, I was having the fight of my life!"

"I should say so," answered Snap, looking around. "You must have pulled up those three bushes yonder. Getting strong in your sleep."

"I am glad he didn't dream I was a bear," remarked Shep. "There wouldn't have been anything left of me by the time he woke up!"

"I know how it was," said Whopper, as the full truth dawned on him. "I ate a very hearty supper last night, and when I went to bed my head was full of those two bears we brought down. That gave me the nightmare."

"Then, after this, we'll have to send you to bed supperless," said Snap.

"Not much!" cried Whopper.



CHAPTER XXIX

A STRANGE MEETING IN THE FOREST

Despite Whopper's nightmare and what had followed, the boy hunters slept soundly for the rest of the night. All arose at daybreak and procured what was destined to be their last meal in the camp for that season.

"I rather hate to leave the spot," said Snap, while packing away the breakfast things. "We have had some good fun here."

"We must come back some time, by all means," declared Shep. "Maybe this winter."

"Yes, some hunting up here in mid-winter wouldn't go bad," came from Giant. "We could bring snowshoes along and have jolly times."

"That's the talk!" ejaculated Whopper. "I have always wanted to go hunting on snowshoes, And we could build a big snowhouse, too."

"Well, that is something to talk over another time," put in Snap. "Remember, just now we want to locate that mill robber if we can, and also get those bears home."

It took quite some time to pack all of the things aboard the rowboat, and the craft was heavily loaded with the outfit and the game.

"Will it carry us, too?" questioned Shep, as he looked at the boat dubiously.

"It has got to carry us," declared Whopper. "But it will be rather hard rowing."

All tried the boat and found it would carry them, although the gunwale sank low into the water. Then they cleaned up the camp, shut up the cabin, and were all ready for the start.

"Good-by to the camp!" cried Giant, lifting his cap.

"And hurrah for the first outing of our gun club!" added Snap. And they gave the cheers with a will.

Snap and Whopper took the oars first, and the course was out of Firefly Lake and through the narrow watercourse running into Lake Cameron. It was a cool, clear day, with a stiff breeze stirring the bushes and trees of the forest.

"I see some turkeys!" cried Shep, while on the way. "I must have a last shot!"

"And so must I!" came from the others.

All caught up their guns, and as the boat drifted closer to the game, each let drive. Two of the turkeys were killed outright, while two more were badly wounded and easily secured.

"One each!" said Giant.

"Exactly," answered Snap. "And now we have got to stop or we'll sink the boat sure."

"Well, enough is enough," said Whopper. "I think, all told, we have had the best luck possible."

"Even if we didn't get a silver deer."

"That's so—-I forgot about that deer. Well, he will keep for another time, eh, fellows?"

"That's right."

It was shortly after noon that they turned into Lake Cameron and landed near the mouth of that body of water. All were hungry, and partook readily of the lunch that had been brought along.

"Now, what's the next part of the programme?" asked Giant, looking at Snap.

"I don't think it will be advisable for us to show ourselves to the Felps crowd," answered the leader of the gun club.

"Oh, let us do a little scout work!" said Whopper. "We can easily hide the boat and get around to the camp on foot."

The matter was talked over while they ate their mid-day meal, and at the conclusion of the repast they shoved the rowboat with its load into a cove and under some overhanging brushwood. Then, taking only their guns and game-bags and some provisions, they set off for their first camping spot on foot.

"We must be on our guard," cautioned Snap.

"I do not want any of those men to see us if it can possibly be avoided."

"We'll watch out," answered Shep.

A minute later half a dozen fat rabbits crossed their path directly in front of them. The temptation to bring the game down was strong, but they resisted, not wishing to make any noise. A little later they heard two gunshots at a distance.

"Some of the men must be out hunting," observed Giant.

"Gracious! I hope they don't mistake us for game," cried Whopper.

"Let us walk more in the open," answered Snap. "Then they can't make any mistake."

The way was rocky and uneven, and long before they came in sight of their first camp the boys were somewhat footsore and weary.

"This isn't the nicest kind of tramping in the world, is it?" came from Shep.

"Don't say a word," answered Giant. "I just came within an inch of twisting my left ankle."

They had a small brook to cross and there stopped for a drink of water. They were just going on again when another distant gunshot sounded out.

"They must be doing a lot of hunting to-day," observed Snap. "I'd like to know if they can bring anything down."

"Not if what that old guide said was true," answered Shep.

They advanced a few yards further, when Shep suddenly halted and made his chums do the same.

"What's up now?" whispered Whopper. "See a bear?"

"Whopper has bears on the brain," came from Giant, with a grin.

"I see two men over back of yonder rocks," answered Snap. "They seem to be doing some hard talking."

"Who are they?"

"One of them is Andrew Felps."

"And the other?"

"I don't know who he is."

"He is the man we are after!" cried Whopper "Don't you see his red hair and red moustache?"

"Let us go around the rocks and get closer in that way," said Snap, and his suggestion was followed out promptly.

"Well, what do you want of me, anyway, Barrock?" they heard Andrew Felps say to the man with the red hair.

"I want to talk business," answered Lush Barrock, as he was commonly called.

"Well, get to business, then," went on the lumber merchant. "I am not going to stay here all day. You said you had something to say that would interest me."

"It's true, too, Mr. Felps."

"Well, out with it, then."

Lush Barrock paused and cleared his throat. Evidently he did not know exactly how to go about what he had in mind to do.

"I reckon you know the Barnaby lumber folks," he began.

"Yes," was the short answer.

"They have been trying to get hold of a certain lumber tract up at the Spur Road."

"What of that?"

"I understand your company has been trying to get hold of the same tract of land."

"What business is that of yours?"

"None of my business—-in one way—-but a good deal of my business in another way."

"I don't understand you, Barrock. Stop talking in riddles and get down to business."

"Can I trust you, Mr. Felps? I mean, will you keep a secret?"

"That depends," answered Andrew Felps, coldly.

"I want to help you so that you can get the best of the Barnaby people."

"How can you help me?"

"I'll tell you if you'll promise to keep the matter a secret."

"Hum!" The lumber merchant paused for a moment. "Well, go on."

"You won't give me away?"

"No."

"Well, when they got their right to that Spur Road tract certain papers had to be signed."

"I know that."

"Then they had a fire at their sawmill."

"I know that, too."

"During that fire those papers disappeared."

"Ha!" cried Andrew Felps, with interest. "You are certain of that?"

"I am."

"And you—-you——-" The lumber dealer paused.

"In a roundabout way I met the fellow who had the papers. For a consideration he let me have them. If you want them you can have them—-provided you will pay the price."



CHAPTER XXX

WORDS AND A BLOW

The boy hunters had listened to the foregoing conversation with intense interest. There could be no doubt but what this Barrock was the man they were after. His tale that he had procured the missing papers from somebody else was pure fiction—-gotten up merely to deceive Andrew Felps.

"We ought to make him a prisoner on the spot," whispered Shep.

"Wait—-I want to learn what Andrew Felps will do," murmured Snap.

"You want me to buy the papers from you, eh?" said Andrew Felps, after a pause.

"Yes," answered Lush Barrock, boldly.

"Don't you know that you have no right to the documents?"

"Oh, I don't want you to preach to me, Andy Felps. If you want the papers, say so. If not——-"

"If not, what?"

"Maybe I'll return them to the Barnaby folks. I understand Mr. Dodge offered a reward for them."

"What do you want for the papers?" asked Andrew Felps, cautiously.

"They ought to be worth several thousand dollars, but you can have them for one thousand dollars."

"Nonsense, Barrock! What would I do with the papers?"

"Destroy them."

"What, after giving you a thousand dollars for them?"

Lush Barrock nodded. "It's this way, Felps," he said. "If you get this contract out of the way I am sure you can make another contract—-for your own company. The Spur Road folks feel sore, and I know you can fix matters up with old Haley, who is a miser, and willing to do almost anything for money."

"Have you the papers with you?"

"Do you want to buy them?"

"I want to see what I am getting, first."

Lusher Barrock made a movement as if to take something from his breast-pocket.

Just at that moment heavy footsteps sounded out directly behind the four boy hunters, and two men belonging to the Felps crowd appeared upon the scene.

"Hullo! What are you youngsters doing here?" demanded one of the men.

"We—-we came over on business," stammered Snap. He hardly knew what to say, the meeting was such an unexpected one.

"Who is there?" cried out Andrew Felps, and ran around the edge of the rocks. "What, you! Where did you come from?"

Andrew Felps was followed by Lush Barrock. When the fellow who had robbed the sawmill saw Snap and his chums he was almost struck dumb.

"See here," began Andrew Felps, his face growing dark, "what do you——-"

"Stop him!" yelled Snap, and pointed to Lush Barrock, who had suddenly taken to his heels. "Stop him, somebody!"

Snap made a dash after the robber, and was followed by his three chums. Barrock was a good runner, and soon disappeared into the bushes.

"We must catch him!" panted Snap. "We must not let him get away!"

He went on after Lush Barrock with all speed. The course was through the bushes and over some rocks. Then, of a sudden, a voice sounded out ahead:

"Stop, all of you! If you don't, I'll fire!"

"Oh, Snap, do you think he will fire at us?" gasped Giant, and came to a halt, followed by the rest.

"If you fire, so will we!" sang out Snap, and brought around his shotgun. But no answer came back, and now Lush Barrock was both out of sight and hearing.

Yet the boy hunters did not give up the chase. They followed the trail as best they could to a brook, but there lost it in the water. Then they hunted around for a good quarter of an hour, but without avail.

"Too bad!" groaned Snap. "Oh, how I wish I had put my hands on that rascal!"

"He is certainly a bad one," was Whopper's comment.

"Yes, and Andrew Felps is almost as bad," said Shep. "He would have bought those papers."

They retraced their steps toward the lake, and soon met Andrew Felps and his companions.

"Did you catch him?" asked the lumber dealer, nervously.

"No," was Snap's short answer.

"Do you know him?" went on Andrew Felps, curiously.

"I know him to be the man who robbed the sawmill and set the place on fire."

"Is that so?"

Andrew Felps put on an appearance of great surprise.

"Don't you know it, too?" said Snap, bluntly.

"Me? Of course not. Why—-er—-if I knew he was that kind of a man——-" Andrew Felps broke off short. "Were you listening to our talk?"

"We were," put in Whopper. "We heard every word, too."

"Ahem! Well, I—-er—-that is, I was only sounding the fellow," said the lumber dealer, lamely.

To this Snap did not say anything, although Andrew Felps looked at him inquiringly.

"You don't suppose I was going to have anything to do with him?" demanded Andrew Felps, after a pause.

"Yes, I do," said Snap, bluntly.

"Bah! Nonsense! If he had shown those papers I should have taken them away from him."

"To keep?"

"No; to return to their rightful owners."

To this Snap made no reply. Andrew Felps was clearly disconcerted.

"Evidently you don't believe me, boy."

Still Snap was silent.

"See here, do you expect to make trouble for me on this account?" pursued the lumber dealer, growing angry.

"I shall tell the truth, that's all," said Snap.

"I see! You'll try to make it appear that I am in with this—-this fellow!" snorted the lumber dealer. "Well, just you take care, or you may get into trouble!"

"If I get into trouble I guess I'll know how to take care of myself," returned Snap, stoutly.

He had scarcely uttered the words when Andrew Felps caught him roughly by the shoulder.

"Boy, take care how you talk to me!"

"Let go of me!" exclaimed Snap, with flashing eyes. "Let go, I say!" And he jerked himself away. "Don't you dare lay your hands upon me again, Andrew Felps!"

"Ha! you imp!" snarled the lumber dealer, and caught hold of Snap once more. This time the boy tried to free himself, but in vain.

"If you don't let go, I'll strike you!" he panted, and the next moment he struck out, landing a hard blow on the lumber dealer's nose. The latter was so amazed he fell back and released his hold.

"Oh, my nose!" groaned the man. "You young scoundrel! I'll——-"

At that moment came a cry of alarm from a distance.

"Hullo! hullo! Come this way! The woods are on fire! We'll be burnt out before we know it!"



CHAPTER XXXI

THE FOREST FIRE—-CONCLUSION

The cry was such an unexpected one that for the moment every one who heard it was dumfounded. The men stared at each other and so did the boys. Then all looked up and saw a thick mass of smoke rolling over the forest. The wind was blowing briskly, and soon the smoke began to envelop the entire crowd.

"Say, fellows, we must get out of here!" exclaimed Shep. "We can't stay, or we'll be burnt up!"

"That's the truth," put in Giant. "Let us get back to our boat."

"To the camp!" came from Andrew Felps, and ran off, followed by the other men.

"Shall we go after them?" asked Snap.

"What good will it do?" said Shep. "They can get out on the lake in their boat—-if the fire gets too strong for them."

"The wind is blowing it directly to the lake," said Whopper. "My, but it has gained headway!" he added, looking around.

The smoke was growing thicker, and already they could see the sparks floating overhead. From a distance they heard a wild cry, but could not make out what it was.

Turning around, they started for the spot where they had left their boat.

In their mad rush to gain the craft, they did not notice that they got off the trail until they were halted by a mass of brushwood on all sides of them.

"This can't be right!" panted Giant. "I didn't notice this before."

"We have made some mistake!" ejaculated Shep. "Maybe we are going away from the lake!"

They gazed around. The smoke was growing thicker, and now a few burning brands fell close by.

"One thing is certain, we can't stay here!" came from Snap. "Let us go straight downhill. That will bring us to water sooner or later."

This was considered good advice and all acted on it without delay. The smoke was now so thick they could scarcely see in any direction. The light of the sun was obscure, making it as dark as if it was night.

"Here is a little stream!" called out Giant, presently. "This must run into the lake!"

All stepped into the brook and followed it for several hundred feet. Then Snap called a halt.

"Here is our lost trail!"

"Snap is right," said Shep. "Come on, the boat cannot be far off."

Once more they went on, the smoke growing so thick they had to crouch down to get their breath. The tears were streaming from their eyes, and Whopper let out a yell as a burning brand floated down on his neck, raising a blister.

"Here is the boat, thank fortune!" said Snap, a minute later.

How they tumbled into the craft they scarcely knew. The painter was cut and they shoved off into the lake, just as a fierce gust of wind sent a cloud of smoke and a shower of sparks down upon them.

"Phew! but that was a narrow escape!" muttered Shep, when the shore had been left behind and they could catch their breath.

"We are not out of danger yet!" said Snap. "This fire may be worse than we think. If it takes in the whole lake district, we'll be hemmed in on all sides."

"Look!" exclaimed Giant. "Am I mistaken, or is a storm coming up?" and he pointed to the sky.

"Those are certainly clouds, not smoke," said Whopper. "Oh, I hope it does rain and puts out the fire. I shouldn't like to see this fine forest destroyed."

"Nor I," added Snap.

"If it is burned down it will be Mr. Felps's loss," came from Giant. "He said he had bought the district up, you'll remember."

As they pulled along, well away from the shore, they suddenly heard a mad cry for aid.

"What's that?" asked Snap.

"A man on shore!" ejaculated Whopper. "See him—-over on yonder rocks!"

"It is that Barrock!" said Shep.

"Help me!" came from the man, who was waving his arms wildly. "Take me off, or I'll be burnt up!"

"Let us row to him," said Snap.

The rowboat was turned in toward shore without delay. In the meantime, to escape the smoke and burning brands, Lusher Barrock rushed into the lake up to his knees.

"Save me!" he bawled again. "I can't swim!"

"We'll save you!" answered Snap. "But see here, Barrock," he added, suddenly.

"What?"

"You will have to give us those documents you took from the sawmill."

"I—-I—-ain't got them."

"Well, then, we'll leave you where you are," said Snap, just to test the rascal.

"No! no! I—-I'll give you the papers!"

"Very well, then."

The craft came alongside of the robber and he was helped on board. He was badly scared and trembling from head to foot. A burning brand had come down on his left ear, singeing that member and also his fiery red hair.

"Now give me those papers," demanded Snap, and without waiting thrust his hand into the man's pocket and drew them forth. "Have you the money, too?"

"I—-I——-"

"Hand it over or we'll search you."

"I've got three hundred dollars," said Lush Barrock, lamely. "I spent about fifty dollars."

The money was handed over to Snap, and he placed it and the papers in an inner pocket of his jacket. Then the robber was ordered to sit at the bow of the boat and not move, and a pistol he carried was taken from him.

It was not long after this that it began to rain. At first the downfall was not great, but presently there was a perfect deluge and then the boy hunters knew that the danger from the forest fire was over. Looking up the lake they saw Andrew Felps and his party in their launch, unharmed. The camp of the lumber dealer, however, had been burned out clean and clear, along with all of the provisions.

"That's what he gets for taking our cabin from us," was Giant's comment.

Not wishing to meet the lumber dealer again, now that they had made Lush Barrock a prisoner, Snap directed his chums to row out of the lake and on to the river. The boys pulled a good stroke and, despite the load on board the craft, made fair progress.

"This fire will worry the folks at home," said Shep. "I am glad we made up our minds to break camp."

"Yes," answered Whopper. "Everything happened for the best, after all."

The boat was still some miles from Fairview when they saw another craft approaching. It contained Mr. Dodge and Jed Sanborn.

"Safe, are you?" sang out Mr. Dodge, as he drew near. "We were afraid that forest fire would do you some harm."

"We had a pretty close shave of it, father," answered Snap.

"We've got a prisoner for you, Mr. Dodge," sang out Shep, somewhat proudly. "Here is the rascal who set fire to the sawmill."

"Is it possible!" cried Mr. Dodge.

"That fire was an—-an accident," grumbled Lusher Barrock. "All a mistake."

"I've got the documents he took, and three hundred dollars of the money," said Snap.

"Well! well! This is famous, boys!" said Mr. Dodge.

"My sakes alive, look at the bears!" called out Jed Sanborn, as Giant pulled aside the canvas that lay over the game. "Who shot 'em?"

"We shot one and caught the other in the trap," answered Giant. "Don't you think we did pretty well for boys?"

"Well for boys? Why, men couldn't do any better. You're the best boy hunters anywhere!"

The prisoner was transferred to the boat containing Mr. Dodge and Jed Sanborn, and Snap gave to his parent the money and the documents that had been recovered. Then both boats headed for Fairview, which was reached at nightfall.

Great was the surprise of the town folks when it was learned that the man who had set fire to the sawmill had been captured. He was put in jail, and later on tried and sent to prison for a term of years.

There was another surprise when it was noised about that the boy hunters had laid low not only several deer and a good deal of small game, but also two fair-sized bears. The bears were placed on public exhibition at one of the stores and many came to look at them.

Ham Spink and his cronies were intensely jealous, but did not dare to give vent to their feelings. Snap and his chums took no notice of the dudish youth and his followers.

"We have the best of it, and they know it," said Snap.

"Boys, we must go out again, this winter," said Shep. "Come, what do you say?"

All agreed instantly, and how they went out, and what good times they had will be told in another volume of this series, to be called, "Guns and Snowshoes; or, The Winter Outing of the Boy Hunters." The best hunting is often to be had when there is snow on the ground, and my readers can rest assured that the four boy hunters made the most of their opportunities.

A while after the boys got home, it was learned that Andrew Felps had escaped with his party, unharmed, but all had lost practically everything they had taken along but the launch. The forest had been much damaged, especially that tract which the Felps Lumber Company had purchased for cutting purposes, so the lumber merchant was out in more ways than one. Nothing was said to him about the talk he had had with Lusher Barrock, and he himself was afraid to open his mouth about it, and soon the incident was practically forgotten. The Barnaby Company went to work at the Spur Road tract and nobody attempted to stop them.

"Boys, we had a dandy time, didn't we?" said Snap, one evening after he had had his fill of venison steak.

"We had the best time ever!" said Shep. "May we have many more like it!"

"Just wait till this winter!" cried Whopper.

"I am going to kill sixteen deer, twenty bears, two hundred wild turkeys, and about a thousand rab——-"

"Draw it mild, Whopper!" ejaculated Giant. "Wait till the time comes, and then do your best."

And Whopper did wait, and so did the rest, and here let us leave them and say good-by.

THE END