Four Boy Hunters Part 29

As best they could all four of the young hunters climbed up on the keel of the boat, placing Whopper between them.

"It's as cold as Greenland," said Whopper. "What are we to do?"

"I don't know---drift, I reckon," answered Snap.

"The wind will carry us down the lake," said Giant, who appeared to suffer the least of all. "But I say, boys, all of our guns are gone, and other things, too!"

"Well, never mind that just now," said Snap. "Let us be thankful if we save our lives."

"What, you don't think there is serious danger?" asked the small youth.

"Doesn't it look like it, Giant?"

"The wind is coming up again!" cried Shep, and just then they felt its full force. With the wind came a dash of rain, pelting them mercilessly. Truly, they were in a position as uncomfortable as it was dangerous.

CHAPTER XXI

A CAMP AND A PRISONER

Slowly the minutes went by. The wind continued to blow strongly and the rain came down as hard as ever. All of the boys were capless, and the cold chilled them to the very marrow of their bones.

"I'd give all I am worth to be in camp near a big fire," came from Giant, presently.

"I can't sit up mu-much lon-longer," put in Whopper, weakly. "I am like a---a lump of ice already!"

"I think we must be getting close to sh.o.r.e," said Snap, as bravely as he could. "Keep up your courage."

He was at the end of the boat and allowed himself to slip down into the lake.

"Hi! Come back!" called Shep, in fresh alarm.

"I am only going to see how deep it is," was the reply.

A few minutes later Snap announced that he could touch bottom.

All strained their eyes and thought they could see the sh.o.r.e at a short distance.

Snap forced the craft in that direction and soon found himself in water but three feet deep.

"We are all right now, boys!" he called out. "Come, let us pull the boat in."

They did so, and soon the four young hunters were standing in the sopping wet brushwood on the edge of the lake. They had no idea where they had landed and only a dim notion regarding the location of their camp.

"I think the best thing we can do," said Snap, "is to stay around here somewhere and start a good big camp-fire. If we try to get back to our camp we may get lost and also take our death of cold.

The quicker we start a fire the better it will be for us."

"All right, start a fire," said Whopper. "But it is going to be no easy matter---with all the wood so wet."

"Look yonder, boys!" cried Giant. "Am I mistaken, or do I see a light?"

"It certainly is a light," said Shep, looking in the direction pointed out---a place quite a distance from the lake. "Maybe some other campers are around."

"I hope so," said Snap. "Perhaps we can get something to eat."

All were hungry as well as cold, and the idea of a meal appealed to them strongly. Snap led the way through the low brushwood in the direction of the camp-fire, which was burning under a series of overhanging rocks.

"Let me see what sort of a place it is first," warned Snap, as they drew closer. "We don't want to run into any tramps or worse."

n.o.body appeared to be around the camp-fire, which was burning brightly in spite of the rain and wind. It was a well-sheltered spot, and in the rocks was a hollowed-out place, against which leaned some split logs, forming a rude shack.

Catching up a firebrand, Snap gazed into the shack. He gave a good look and then came outside and held up his hand for silence.

"I've made a discovery," he whispered, excitedly.

"What?" asked the others.

"Do you remember that negro who stole Pop Lundy's watch?"

"Yes."

"Well, he is in there, fast asleep!"

"That rascal!" cried Shep. "Are you sure?"

"Look for yourselves."

They did so and saw that it was the same colored man beyond the shadow of a doubt. He rested on a couch of pine boughs, flat on his back and snoring l.u.s.tily. He was evidently the only occupant of the camp.

"Look there!" whispered Giant, pointing to a tin can that had had some condensed milk in it. "That looks like our stuff!"

"Look at the clay pipe," put in Whopper. "Do you know what I think?"

"He is the rascal who looted our camp?"

"Yes; and maybe he is the fellow who looted the Spink camp, too."

"Let us make him a prisoner!"

All were willing, and they looked around for a rope.

"Here is his horse-pistol," said Snap, picking it up. "I think I'll keep it for the present."

A rope happened to be handy, and with great care they fastened one end around the negro's right wrist. Then they brought that hand over to the other and tied the two together. With another piece of the, rope they tied one ankle fast to the other.

The job was just finished when the negro awoke in a lazy sort of way.