Out with Gun and Camera Part 27

"Well, maybe he didn't really pull the leg. You see, I was pretty sound asleep. But he, or it, jumped over me and back again."

"Let's make a light and see if the outfit is O.K.," suggested Snap.

They had a small pocket lantern along, and this was lit and an examination was made.

"See, the sugar bag is bursted open!" cried the doctor's son.

"The beans are scattered everywhere!" came from Giant.

"And the cracker box is open and some of the crackers are missing,"

added Snap. "That must have been the work of some enemy. He wanted to destroy our stores."

"But I---I really don't think it was Ham," said Shep slowly. "It was---well, it didn't seem like anybody of that crowd. I didn't get much of a look, but it wasn't like Ham, or Carl, or d.i.c.k."

"A wild animal might do this, rooting around," said Snap. "Could it have been a bear?"

"A bear!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Giant. "Don't say a bear rooted around here while we were asleep! Why, it's enough to give a fellow heart failure thinking about it!"

"Wonder what time it is?" said the doctor's son, and felt for his watch. "Why, I declare, my watch is gone!" he exclaimed in consternation.

Just then Snap saw something on the ground and picked it up. It was a shred of a red bandanna handkerchief.

"Boys, do you know what I think?" he said excitedly. "I think our visitor was that wild hermit who lived in the lonely cabin in the woods!"

"You mean the one Whopper and I met?" asked Shep.

"Yes."

CHAPTER XVIII

A FIGHT WITH TWO WILDCATS

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.

"Gos.h.!.+ 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 pa.s.s 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 pa.s.sed, 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.