The Young Oarsmen of Lakeview Part 16

"Let us find out what it was!" cried Harry.

"Doan go!" moaned Blumpo. "You will git chewed up!"

And then he dove back into the tent for his "hoss" pistol and his rusty spear.

Catching up a blazing brand, Jerry threw it into the brush. By the light they saw the creature crouching on a rock.

Bang! bang!

The two guns spoke simultaneously. Harry hit the beast in the shoulder.

Jerry's shot was more effective for it struck in the neck, and with a snarl the creature leaped into the air and fell--dead.

"You've settled him!" cried Harry. "Come on and inspect him."

"Wait and load your gun first," cautioned our hero. "He may have some fight in him still."

The weapons were put in order, and then, with firebrands to light the way, they moved forward to inspect their victim.

It was a large and heavy boar.

"A wild hog!" shouted Jerry. "My, what a big fellow he is!"

"I thought it was a bear," said Harry. He was somewhat disappointed.

"He was savage enough, at all events," replied Jerry. "These wild hogs put up a terrible fight, father says."

"Oh, I know that. Wasn't d.i.c.k Harben's uncle killed by one? Well, he's dead enough and we have meat to last a month."

"Pretty strong eating," smiled Jerry.

They called Blumpo. The homeless youth was delighted over the dead animal.

"'Ham's de best ob meat,'" he sang. "I'll soon fix him up, see if I don't."

The boys were glad that it was getting toward morning, for the excitement had taken all the sleep out of them. They replenished the fire, and sat around waiting for daybreak.

As soon as the sun rose, Blumpo prepared breakfast, while Jerry and Harry took a plunge into the lake. It was great sport, and they remained in the water until Blumpo called them.

That day the boys tramped nearly two miles around the island. They took their guns with them and came back with their game bags full of birds.

Returning, they were thoroughly tired out, but nevertheless resolved to set a watch.

"Four hours each," said Harry, and this was agreed to.

But nothing happened to disturb them, and on the following night the watch was abandoned.

The boys put in nearly a week in hunting, fis.h.i.+ng, swimming, and lying around, and they enjoyed every minute of the time.

Nothing had been seen or heard of the hermit who was supposed to inhabit the island, and they began to think that no such person existed.

Neither had they heard anything more of Si Peters and his crowd, and they fancied they were safe from molestation.

Sunday pa.s.sed quietly, and on Monday morning Jerry proposed they take along a game bag full of provisions and climb to the top of the rocky hill in the centre of the island.

"We must go to the very top before we leave," he said.

The game bag was filled with eatables, and cups, plates, etc., and then they tied up the tent flaps and drew the boat still higher up out of the water.

The first quarter of a mile of the journey was easy enough, but after that they struck the rocks, and climbing became more and more difficult with every step.

"Phew! but dis am work!" puffed Blumpo. "Dis boy's most tucked out!"

"We'll take a good long rest at noon, Blumpo," said Harry.

Up and up they went until Jerry, who was in advance, came to a sudden halt. A deep split in the rocks barred his further progress.

"Will we have to go back?" asked Harry, anxiously.

"It looks like it."

"Can't we leap over?"

"We might try. I can, if you are willing to follow."

"I kin jump dat easy enough," put in Blumpo.

Jerry stepped back, and running a few feet, made the leap in safety. Harry followed, and then both boys waited for Blumpo Brown to join them.

The homeless youth measured the distance with his eye and came on like a steam engine.

But just before he reached the edge of the split he slipped and went headlong. Unable to stop himself, he crashed down into the opening head first.

In going over the rocks he twisted himself partly around.

With one hand he caught hold of a frail bush growing among the rocks.

His left foot caught in a crevice, and there he hung, unable to help himself, and with death staring him in the face!

CHAPTER XIV.

THE HERMIT OF THE ISLAND.

"He'll be killed!" yelled Harry.

His face was deadly white.