Dan Carter and the River Camp Part 21

"You're right, Brad," Chips admitted. "I'm sorry. I won't pull any more stunts while we're here."

Back in camp once more, several of the Cubs elected to try their luck fis.h.i.+ng. Dan, Chips and Brad, who were to help Mr. Holloway with the cooking that night, remained behind to check over supplies.

"The boys may bring in a few fish," the Den Dad remarked. "If so, we should have a good meal tonight. But just in case-we'll be prepared to fall back on ham and eggs."

Dan wandered off to gather wood for the fire. Upon his return with a large armful of dry pieces, he noticed that the water pail was empty again.

"There must be a herd of thirsty camels around here," he complained. "I filled that bucket not twenty minutes ago!"

"I'll do it this time," Chips offered, eager to make amends for the skeleton. "You've done your share of work already."

Seizing the bucket, the boy disappeared in the direction of the spring.

Brad, Dan and Mr. Holloway busied themselves with preparations for the evening meal, setting out supplies that would be needed.

"How about another batch of biscuits?" the Den Dad proposed. "The Cubs went for them in a big way this noon."

"Fine!" approved Dan. "And baked potatoes will be easy to fix. We can wrap them in wet clay and roast them on the coals."

"Know where we can get any clay?" Mr. Holloway asked, searching through the supplies for a package of flour. "It's mostly sand around here."

"There's some back by the spring. I noticed it when I was filling the water bucket awhile ago."

"Suppose you see if you can dig up some, Dan. Take an old tin can."

The spring was situated well back from the camp site in a natural shelter of willows, ferns and vines.

Dan had covered less than half the distance when Chips suddenly plunged into view. The water pail left behind, he obviously was excited as he ran toward the other boy.

"Dan!" he exclaimed breathlessly. "I-I saw someone at the spring!"

Dan scarcely knew whether to laugh or take Chips seriously.

"What's so strange about that?" he demanded. "Was it one of the Den Dads?"

"Of course not!" Chips retorted, exasperated. "What do you think I am, anyhow? A scared cat? I saw this man peering at me as I reached down to dip water from the pool at the spring."

"Sure you aren't pulling another skeleton trick?"

"Heck, no! I swear it! Dan, I really saw this man-an ugly looking fellow.

It gave me a bad start. I dropped the water bucket and ran."

"It may have been Jabowski. I've been told he stays on the island while Mr. Manheim is away."

"This man had dark bushy hair and hadn't shaved in three or four days."

"You're sure he didn't have horns sprouting from his forehead?"

"Wise guy! You think I'm making it up!" Chips said indignantly. "It gave me a bad feeling, I tell you. I wish you could have seen the way he looked at me. It froze my blood."

"Where was this monster?"

"Lurking back behind the bushes. As I started to fill the pail, I glanced up. He was staring at me with hatred in his eyes. Then he ducked back out of sight. I dropped the water bucket and ran."

Dan was only half convinced that Chips was not trying to play another joke. However, he noticed that the boy was breathing hard and actually looked a trifle pale.

"You probably saw Mr. Jabowski," he said with a shrug.

"Like fun I did! I've seen Jabowski at the Webster City Yacht Club. It was someone else."

"A fisherman maybe who came to the island by boat."

"We haven't seen any boats around all day," Chips contended.

"I'll go back there with you," Dan offered. "Come on."

"You wouldn't be so brave if you'd seen that leering face," Chips said, following unwillingly.

The two boys approached the spring warily. All was tranquil. A gentle breeze stirred the dense growth of bushes which hemmed in the spring and pool. Otherwise there was no movement.

"No one here," Dan observed. "Sure you didn't imagine it, Chips?"

"I certainly did not."

"Well, no one is here now, at any rate. I'll fill the water bucket while you look around to see if you can find any clay. We need it to wrap baked potatoes in."

Dan moved on to the spring. He stooped to drink deeply of the cool water and then reached down to pick up the tin bucket which Chips had abandoned.

In the still water of the circular pool he could see his own reflection.

And then he saw something more!

Merging with the dark of the bushes was a face, the evil countenance that Chips had described so vividly. As he watched, fascinated, a hand slowly was raised.

"Look out, Dan!" called Chips.

Dan ducked. As he flattened himself, a stone was hurled by the man who crouched in the bushes. Sailing over his head, it struck the pool with a hard splash.

CHAPTER 10 The Man at the Spring

A commotion in the bushes informed Dan and Chips that the man who had thrown the stone now was retreating.

"You see!" Chips cried excitedly, joining his friend at the pool's edge.

"I told you the truth, didn't I?"

"You sure did," Dan muttered, scrambling to his feet. "If I hadn't ducked, that stone would have clipped me on the back of the head. Come on, let's nail him!"