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"Hold on! Wait a minute! Don't get down on that side!" cried Jed, earnestly. "What's the matter; is the step on this side broken?" asked Bart, in some alarm, as he hastily checked himself. "No, but you started to get down with your left foot first," explained the teamster. "That's sure to bring the worst kind of bad lu...
"That's better," remarked the man, with an air of relief, as Bart descended. "Yes," he added, as he drove on, "we're going to have quite a storm." He was right, for that night the ground was covered with the white flakes, but the thermometer did not get down very low. After supper Bart's three chums called on him, and,...
"Didn't think it was healthy," observed Bart, with a chuckle. "You told us you wouldn't be back for an hour, so we concluded to leave. You should tie your ropes better, Sandy." "We weren't going to leave you there an hour," went on the president of the secret society. "That was only a joke on you." "Well, our coming aw...
"You're now regular members," declared Sandy, "and you can come to the meeting to-night, if you want to." The chums went to a "hall" that had been fitted up over the barn of Sandy's uncle. It had all the features of a regular secret society meeting room, with inner and outer sentinels, a hole cut in the door, through w...
"Well, Bart, what about camp?" asked Ned, one cold morning in December, when an overcast sky gave promise of more snow. "I was just thinking it was time we got down to business about it," was the reply. "I'm ready to go, if you fellows are. I've spoken to my folks, and they're willing I should take two weeks out of sch...
"Well, suppose we go down to my house after school, and look over our camping stuff," suggested Bart, for the tents, stoves and other paraphernalia was kept in his barn. The boys had gone camping several times before, both winter and summer, and had a very complete outfit, as is known to those who have perused the othe...
"All right, then come on out, and let's try a few shots," went on Bart. "I've got some new cartridges, with smokeless powder, and I want to see how they work." A little later the four chums were ready to take turns with two rifles Bart owned. The target was set up in the deserted orchard, and the fun began. Bart was ea...
"Well, I've had more practice," said Bart modestly. "You fellows will do as good when you've had more experience." "I'm afraid not," spoke Fenn, with a sigh. "Here, see if I can hit that tin can on the fence post." He raised the weapon, sighted it carefully, and pulled the trigger. There was no smoke, for the powder wa...
Poor Fenn turned a sickly color, and the rifle fell from his nerveless hands. The shouts continued, and there was a commotion in the bushes. A little later Alice Keene, with her hands full of bandages, and carrying a small medicine chest, rushed from the house and past the group of terror-stricken lads toward the fence...
Bart hurried into the house to telephone for a physician, while Alice in the rôle of a red-cross nurse, hurried on toward the fence. The shouts were growing fainter now. The boys, with white faces, followed her. CHAPTER VIII AN ODD LETTER "Suppose he is dead?" faltered Fenn, as he stumbled along. "Will--will I be arres...
"Don't worry until you see who it is, and how badly he is hurt," advised Frank. They were soon at the fence. Ned and Frank parted the bushes that grew higher than the topmost rail, and plunged on through. Fenn followed, but Alice was going farther up, where she knew there was a gate. The sight that met the eyes of the ...
"I--I was," faltered Stumpy. "I missed the tin can I aimed at. Did I come very close to you?" "I didn't take time to measure the distance," announced Jed dryly, "but it was close enough." "We heard you yell," said Frank, "and we thought some one was killed. We didn't know it was you." "I was hollering at the horses, pa...
"Oh, I guess the bullet didn't come so near you as you thought," suggested Ned, partly for Fenn's benefit. "Fenn usually fires high, and he missed the can clean. Then, you're down in a sort of hollow here, and I guess it was well over your head." "I hope so," remarked Jed. "A miss is as good as a mile, I guess. Still, ...
"Wa'al, I don't mind drivin' to the hospital for ye," announced Jed with a grin, "but there ain't no need for it." "Don't tell me he's--" but Alice paused, not willing to utter the fatal word. Several rolls of bandages fell from her hands. "Oh, I'm all right," went on Jed. "I'll live to be an old man if I wait to be sh...
"No one," explained Ned, as he told how it had happened. Jed took part of the blame, for not announcing his presence, but, nevertheless, Fenn was a bit shaky for some time after the incident, and Ned and the others were nervous. "The doctor will be right over!" suddenly cried Bart, bursting through the bushes. "Who is ...
"What's the matter now?" asked Frank. "There's a horseshoe in the field there, and it's turned the wrong way for luck," explained Jed, as he picked it up. "I was drivin' right toward it--must have come off one of my horses when I was comin' around to get a good place to toss off the wood." "Anyway it had the curved, or...
"Oh, I just turned it around again. Now I can drive toward it right, and I'll have good luck--you see," which he proceeded to do, and, after his wagon had passed the shoe, he got out again, picked it up, and then went on, well satisfied with himself. As the days went on the weather grew colder. There were frequent snow...
"There's no one here!" cried the stout lad, "but I was sure I heard a knock--didn't you?" "Sure," replied Bart, and the others nodded. "There has been some one here," went on Bart. "See the footprints in the snow. It's snowed since we came. Some one ran up, knocked, and ran away again." "I wonder what for?" murmured Fe...
"What?" asked Fenn. "This letter," answered Frank, picking up a missive from the doorstep. The white envelope, so much like the snow, had not at first been noticed. "Bring it in and see what it says," proposed Bart, and soon, under the light of the gas in the dining-room, the boys were perusing the strange missive. "It...
"'MR. FENN MASTERSON, "'Dear Sir:--I understand you have quite a collection of mud turtles. Would you be willing to part with them? I mean for a consideration, of course. If you would kindly communicate with me. I will pay you a good price for all the turtles you have. But I must make this stipulation, which, at first ...
CHAPTER IX OFF TO CAMP "This must be a joke," remarked Fenn, at length, after he had once more read the note. "Sandy Merton, or some of the other fellows, who want to have some fun with us, wrote that." "I think not," said Frank, thoughtfully.
"Why?" inquired Ned. "Some man wrote that," went on Frank. "That's no boy's handwriting. There's too much character to it. What are you going to do about it, Fenn?" "Nothing, I guess. Of course, I'd sell my turtles and things, if I got a chance, for I think I'm going to collect different kinds of wood now, and----" "Wh...
"It would, if we weren't going camping," declared the stout youth, with vigor. "Only when I'm away there'll be nobody to look after the things. Mother is afraid to feed 'em, and dad won't, so if I had a good chance to get rid of 'em I'd do it. Only I wouldn't do business with a fellow like this, who doesn't sign his na...
"What do you think it is?" asked Ned. "Let's make another examination of the letter, detective style, and see what we can deduce from it." "I think the man who wrote that letter is the same man we have met several times--the mysterious stranger who entered the school--the man who stole the diamond bracelet," spoke Fran...
"And I think it a good one," added Bart. "Fenn, suppose you answer this letter, and leave your reply in the dead sycamore tree." "What shall I say?" asked the heavy-weight chum. "Oh, you don't need to be specific. Say you don't like to do business this way, that you prefer to meet the writer. Then we'll leave the lette...
"I think that would be a good plan," commented Frank, who, being more sober-minded than his chums usually were, often said the final word when some scheme was afoot. "If the writer wants to resort to such tactics as leaving an anonymous letter on the doorstep, we can retaliate by playing the spy on him. Get busy, Fenn....
The appointed time found them at the place, and, as they came in sight of the tree, they adopted precautionary tactics previously agreed upon. "For," Bart explained, "we want to catch that man, and we've got to go about it right. He's given us the slip a number of times. Now, naturally, he'll expect us to-day, and he'l...
"Keep quiet," advised Bart, in a sharp whisper. "The man may be in hiding." There were patches of snow on the ground about the sycamore, but an examination of them did not disclose any human footprints, though there were squirrel and rabbit tracks which gave the boys hope that they would get plenty of game when they we...
The four lads hid themselves in the thick underbrush not far from the tree, where each one could command a good view of it, and the path leading to it. They agreed, on a signal from Bart, to rush out, and, if possible, grab the mysterious man in case he should appear. Then began a period of waiting, and it was made all...
"This will be fine weather for camping," cried Ned exultantly, as he plowed through a small drift. They began their preparations for camping the next day. It did not take them long to get their things in readiness, for they had spent several days overhauling their outfits. The tents, one for sleeping and the other for ...
Jed Sneed had taken the camp stuff to the express office in his big sled, and was to come back for the four chums, who carried their guns with them. The storm had hardly ceased, and there was plenty of snow on the ground. "What'll you boys do if you get snowed in?" asked Mr. Keene as he watched his son and the others g...
"And drink hot ginger tea in case you get wet," ordered Alice, with her most professional air. "All right," chorused the boys. "All ready?" asked Jed, as he looked around. "All ready!" replied Bart.
"Gid-dap!" called Jed, cracking the whip, and the horses plunged forward into a drift, the bells jingling a merry tune. The start for camp had been made. CHAPTER X A RAILROAD ACCIDENT Jogging along the road to the depot, the four chums asked each other all sorts of questions, as to whether this or that article had been...
"Say, what did you do about your mud turtles, Fenn?" asked Bart, as the sled bumped along, for the road was rough. "Oh, I arranged with Sandy Merton to feed them. I'm going to pay him for it. He promised to look after them. I hope he doesn't forget. Hello! there he comes now. Hello, Sandy!" called Fenn, as he saw the p...
"I'll attend to 'em, Stumpy," promised Sandy. "Bring me back a bear skin; will you?" "If we get enough for ourselves we will," agreed Bart, and Sandy went on to school, looking back at the chums with envious eyes, for, as has been explained, the campers left about a week before the Christmas holidays began. "Well, mayb...
"He isn't under suspicion of having stolen a valuable diamond bracelet." "That's right. Hang it all! I wish we could clear that thing up," remarked Bart, with energy. "Never mind, maybe it will clear itself up before we get back." "Whoa!" called Jed, suddenly, pulling up his team. "What's the matter?" asked Ned.
"The nigh horse jest stumbled with its left fore foot," explained the driver, as he got out of the sled. "Hurt?" inquired Bart. "No, but it's a sign of bad luck, and I don't like it, especially when you fellows are going off on a pleasure trip." "What are you going to do?" Frank wanted to know, for Jed was kicking away...
"I'm looking for a black stone," he explained. "If you can find a black stone, after a horse stumbles like that, it's all right." The boys wanted to laugh at the almost childish superstition exhibited by Jed, but did not want to make him feel bad, so they managed to keep sober faces, as he kicked about in the small dri...
"Why did you do that?" asked Ned, in curiosity. "For good luck," replied Jed. "Nothing better for good luck than going around in a circle just before you start off on a journey. It's sure to bring you back safe, and I want to see you lads again." "How do you make it out that a circle will bring any one back safe?" inqu...
The boys laughed, and Jed did not seem to mind. They leaped out on the station platform, and paid the teamster, who wished them all sorts of good luck, in addition to having worked the "circle degree" on them, as Ned expressed it. "Here!" exclaimed Jed suddenly, as the chums were about to go and purchase their tickets,...
A little later the train pulled in, and, getting aboard, the four chums waved a farewell to Jed, who could be observed standing up in his sled, making some queer signs, evidently with the idea of bringing more good luck. "Well, we're off at last," remarked Ned, as the train gathered speed, "and some of Jed's signs seem...
It was a ride of several hours to Cannistota, and the boys beguiled the time as best they could. About noon, when the train was passing through a lonely mountainous region, where the woods were as dense as if they had never been cut, Frank remarked: "Well, what do you say to lunch? It's about time," for they had brough...
"What happened?" cried Bart. At the same moment from the car in which were the four chums, as well as from the other coaches, there arose the shrill screams of women, and the crying of children. The train had rolled on for a few feet, after the crash, but had come to a sudden stop. "An accident!" cried Fenn. "The train...
PUTTING UP THE TENTS After the first paralyzing shock of the crash the passengers seemed to come to their senses. Women who had been screaming ceased, and children stopped their frightened crying. Men began to gather themselves together, to crawl out from under seats where the sudden stop had thrown them, and prepared ...
"We'll go see," spoke Ned. "Anyhow, our car's not smashed; that's one good thing." "No, and it doesn't seem to have left the track," observed Frank. "Maybe we only hit an obstruction." By this time the four chums were out of their car, and they were followed by a number of men passengers. From other cars a like stream ...
The boys found quite a throng around the engine, and they could now see that the cab, on one side, was splintered, and that the forward end of the coach next to the engine, which was the baggage car, was also damaged. "What's the matter? What happened?" scores of voices asked the railroad men, who, including the firema...
"We'll have to wait until we can telegraph for another engine," replied the railroad man. "It will take several hours, I'm afraid." There were some expressions of dismay, but, in general, the crowd was thankful that it was no worse. The engineer and fireman were busy trying to get the bent driving rod loose from where ...
"I've got to get out that sledge-hammer, axe and saw," he explained to a woman, who was sitting in the seat under the case. "May I ask you to move, madam?" She did so, and then the brakeman was in a quandary, for it was necessary to break the glass in order to get at the tools. The trainman looked about helplessly, for...
"It sure did," agreed Bart, "though he could have used the end of a flag stick just as well, if he had thought of it." While the engineer, firemen, and some of the brakemen worked over the disabled engine, another trainman walked back to the nearest telegraph office to summon a relief engine. Meanwhile the passengers w...
In the seat across the aisle from the boys was a little girl. Hungrily she eyed the food as it came out of the baskets, and, in a voice that could be heard from one end of the car to the other, she piped out: "Mamma, I'm hungry. Why didn't we bring some lunch?" "Hush, dear," said the child's mother. "We will soon be at...
"But, mamma, I'm awful hungry," insisted the child, as she gazed eagerly at the chums who were munching away in great enjoyment. "Hush!" begged the mother, but the child repeated her request for something to eat. "Here," spoke Bart, suddenly, and passed over a chicken sandwich to the little girl. "Will you let her take...
"Not at all, we have plenty. Perhaps you'd like one too?" and Bart handed the woman one, which she received with thanks. "I'll give you a dollar for two sandwiches, young man," said the fat man, eagerly. Bart hesitated. At the same time several other children in the car, seeing the girl eating, began to demand food. "I...
To the credit of the Darewell Chums be it said that they did not hesitate a moment. "Go ahead," exclaimed Ned, and the others nodded assent. "I wish you'd accept my offer before you came to that conclusion," sighed the fat man. "But go ahead. The kids will be glad to get it. I'll have to dine off chocolate caramels, I ...
Then ensued tedious waiting until the relief engine came. There were many murmurs, and much fault-finding, but there was no help for it. The candy boy sold out his stock of sweet stuff in record time, even down to the chewing gum. At length a welcome whistle was heard, and soon the train was under way again. "Well," re...
The chums were late in arriving in Cannistota, and they went at once to a hotel. They had arranged to do this anyhow, as they knew there would not be time to put up tents the same day that they started off on their camping trip. After a substantial meal, to make up for their light dinner, they inquired at the express o...
"That's the stuff!" cried Bart, as he looked to make sure he had his favorite rifle. In due time the camping site was reached, the teamster helped them unload, and then drove back, leaving the four chums alone in quite a lonely stretch of wilderness. But they were used to depending on themselves, they knew they had ple...
It was not easy work, and the boys labored hard, but at last the white tent stood among the trees, making a picturesque spot in the wilderness. Then the cooking shelter was put up, and the stove set, after which Fenn, who constituted himself cook on this occasion, served dinner. The rest of the day was spent in cutting...
"What's that, a tree root?" asked Bart. "If it is, chop it out, or we'll all be doing the same thing." "It wasn't a tree root," observed Fenn, as he turned to examine the object. "By cracky, boys!" he exclaimed. "Look here! It's a whopping big mud turtle!" CHAPTER XII THE PLACE OF THE TURTLES
Fenn's chums hurried over to where, in the gleam of a lantern, he was contemplating the slow-moving reptile. The turtle was a large one, of a common species, and was ambling along as if it did not at all mind the attention it had attracted. "Grab it, Fenn!" exclaimed Ned. "It'll be a dandy for your collection." "That's...
"Yes, and here's a third one!" added Frank. "It's a big one, too, Fenn. Shall I catch it for you?" "Wait a minute, fellows," replied Fenn, earnestly. "Don't touch those turtles!" "Why not?" asked Ned. "Are they poisonous?" "No, but there's something queer about so many being out in the woods in the middle of winter. It...
"Maybe they're hunting for the one of their number who wears the diamond bracelet," suggested Bart, with a laugh, for, in spite of the gravity of the loss, he could not forbear an occasional joke at Fenn's rather odd theory. "No, it isn't that," went on Fenn earnestly. "But I did have a notion that perhaps the turtles ...
There was, and a strange one, as the boys soon discovered. "Anyhow, they're here," observed Ned, "and what are we going to do about it?" "Don't touch 'em, I want to see in what direction they are traveling," called Fenn, who, as soon as he had placed in a safe place the turtle he had caught, came over to where his chum...
"Yes," spoke Fenn, "it may indicate something," and he looked at the big reptiles, who were crawling along. "They're going in the same way as the one was you got," declared Frank, and the others confirmed this. For some minutes Fenn observed the movements of the turtles, until they disappeared under some bushes. Then h...
"Fenn, you can theorize about turtles all you like, but I want my supper," called Ned. "Same here," came from Frank. "Dish it up, cook!" Thereupon Fenn gave over watching the turtles, and, a little later, seated cozily in the tent, the chums partook of a supper of canned baked beans, with hard-tack or pilot biscuit, an...
"Ah, fellows, this is something like life," remarked Bart, as he arranged himself on his cot. "Listen to the wind howling outside. We'll have more snow, I expect, before morning." "Let it snow!" exclaimed Frank. "We're all right now. We'll have to have our Christmas tree here, fellows. Did you bring anything along to p...
"Oh, cut it out!" begged Fenn. "I wasn't thinking of such nonsense at all. I was wondering where those turtles came from. This is a regular stamping place for them, and in the morning I'm going to go on a search." "Do you really think so many of them around here means anything?" asked Frank. "It means something, certai...
"Maybe," assented Fenn, "only it doesn't seem very warm just now. There's a draught somewhere. Bur-r-r-r! No wonder!" he exclaimed. "The tent flap has come open. Who fastened it?" "I did," confessed Frank. "I'll fix it." The canvas was soon made secure, and then, while the wind whipped itself into a gale outside, the b...
Bart's first act, on awakening in the morning, was to go to the tent flap, and look out. Then he called to his companions, who were still asleep: "Say fellows, it's a fine day; only it's snowing." "Did you wake us up to tell us that?" demanded Ned, as he turned over for another nap. "Well, you don't want to sleep all d...
There was much yawning and stretching, but finally the chums were up and dressed, and breakfast was served. "Now for a nice lot of game," exclaimed Bart, as he got out his rifle, and looked over his supply of ammunition. "I think I'll load for bear to-day." "Do you mean to say you expect to go shooting in this storm?" ...
"No, nor fresh bread, either," added Ned. "I miss my rolls with my coffee." "I'm going to bake some biscuits for dinner," declared Fenn. "I brought along some self-raising flour." "Good for you, Stumpy!" cried Ned. "Pity, though, you didn't bring along some self-baking bread, and some washless dishes." "Well, if we're ...
"We can't take it with us," said Bart. "Besides, there isn't any one within ten miles of this place. That's why I wanted to camp here. It will be all right. Well, I'm ready if you are." "I'm going to take my shot-gun," decided Frank. "Maybe I'll see some wild turkeys or some partridge. They'll do if Bart doesn't get hi...
"I'm not playing," was the retort. "I'm going to try an experiment." "Aren't you going hunting with us?" asked Bart. "Not this morning. I'm going to solve this mystery of the turtles, if I can. Besides you fellows will shoot all that's necessary. I'll stay around here, and get ready for a partridge pot-pie or a bear ro...
"Well, I don't know as I shall stay right in camp," went on Fenn. "I'm going to make this turtle lead me to where the other ones went. In other words, I'm going to use this one as a guide." "You're crazy!" scoffed Ned. "Maybe," admitted Fenn, calmly. "You fellows go on with your hunting, and when you come back maybe I'...
"Now go ahead, my fine fellow," spoke Fenn to the reptile. "Which way do you want to head?" The turtle seemed undecided about it, for some time after Fenn had placed it on the ground it did not move, but remained with head, legs and tail withdrawn into the protecting shell. But Fenn was patient, and knew better than to...
He did not wait for the reptile he had captured to lead him to the place. That would have taken too long, but, after quickly scratching his initials on the back of the turtle's shell, together with the date, so he would know the reptile again, Fenn replaced it on the ground, and started off through the woods in the ind...
"I wonder if I can shoot straight enough to bag them?" murmured the lad, as he quickly raised his gun, and banged away, first with the left, and then with the right barrel. Somewhat to his surprise when the smoke cleared away, Fenn saw the two birds lying in the snow. He had made a good shot. "Well, we won't go hungry ...
Making sure of the direction in which the strong odor of sulphur was wafted to him, Fenn temporarily abandoned his quest for the place of the turtles. The odor grew more pronounced, for some sulphur springs are so strongly impregnated with that chemical in solution that the smell carries for miles, especially on a wind...
"Blasting?" he exclaimed aloud, in a questioning tone. "No, it can't be that, either," he added. "They wouldn't be blasting around here!" The next moment he heard a pattering around him, and several large globules of mud came down, seemingly from the sky. Some struck on his hands, and others dotted the white snow about...
But that was not the most curious thing that met Fenn's eyes. He made out numerous mud turtles crawling about over the patch of ground that was free from snow. There must have been a score of the reptiles. Then, as Fenn looked, a curious thing happened. He had just noted that, in the centre of the clearing, there was a...
CHAPTER XIV BART'S FIRST SHOT Fenn made a dash for the shelter of a spruce tree, and watched the descending shower of mud and water. It was soon over, and he stepped out again, to view the curious volcano. He crossed the open space, free from snow, and a number of turtles scurried away at his advance. "That's how it is...
The boiling spring, or mud volcano, as such phenomenons are variously called, consisted, in the main, of a large pool of muddy colored water, lying at the foot of a hill. All around it were dead trees, and the smell of sulphur, though not so strong as at the first spring Fenn had visited, was plainly noticeable. The wa...
But Fenn did not trouble himself much about these theories as he looked at the curious spring. It was a gloomy, lonesome place, and the presence of so many turtles, some of them very large, added to the uncanny aspect. "Well, there are turtles enough here to stock several collections," murmured Fenn. "Lots of different...
"Well, where's the bear steak, and the partridges for roasting." "No luck," declared Bart in disgust. "Never saw a bit of game! I guess we camped in the wrong place." "Oh, no we didn't!" exclaimed Fenn in triumph, as he produced the two plump birds from his pockets. "Here's what I got, besides bagging a boiling spring ...
"Come on, show us?" begged Ned. "Time enough," responded the stout lad. "I'm going to have dinner now, and then we'll have these birds, roasted, for supper. There's more where they came from. Now I'll tell you about the mud volcano," which he did, graphically, so that his chums were eager to go and see it. But they dec...
They tramped off through the woods, their eyes eager for a sight of game, large or small. Each one had a compass, so that if they became separated they could make their way back to camp, for the forest was dense. The snow had ceased, and the weather was clear and cold. Fenn and Frank had shotguns, and elected to try to...
"What is that over there?" asked Bart, also in a whisper, and he pointed to a black object near some bushes. "A stump," replied Ned promptly. "Do stumps move?" inquired Bart. "Of course not."
"Well that one did, so it isn't a stump. I think it's a bear." Bart's opinion was unexpectedly confirmed the next moment, for the animal turned and uttered a loud "woof!" as it sniffed at the snow at the foot of the bush, evidently in search of something to eat. Bart dropped to one knee, and took quick aim. It was his ...
Then, as the echoes of the rifle died away, the two lads saw the animal quickly rear itself upon its hind legs, and swing around in their direction. CHAPTER XV FENN FALLS IN "Shoot again, Bart!" cried Ned. "You missed him!"
Bart had pumped another cartridge into place, but before he could pull the trigger the bear staggered a few paces toward him, and then fell in a convulsive heap. There was no need to fire again. "He's dead!" cried Bart, exultantly, as he leaped forward. "My first bear, though it did take two shots to settle him." But a...
"What's the matter--heavy?" asked Ned. "Try it and see," advised Bart. Ned did so, and grunted in his turn. The truth of the matter was that the bear, though not of full size, was fat and plump, and of greater weight than the boys expected. Then, too, the weight was "dead," which made it all the more awkward to carry. ...
Bart insisted on skinning his prize, saying he was going to make a rug of the hide, and the best portions of the meat were cut off for future use. As it was desired to allow the flesh to cool a bit before using it, the campers prepared a meal of the food they had in stock, reserving the bear steaks for supper. The rest...
"What's the matter?" asked Ned. "Did you see another bear, Bart?" "I thought I heard some one walking around," was the answer. "It's snowing again. I don't see any one." He went back to bed, every one sleeping more in comfort now that the tent was warmer. In the morning, Bart was the first one up, and he opened the ten...
"Some one _was_ sneaking around last night!" declared Bart. "See the footprints!" The campers rushed from the tent in various stages of negligee, and stared at a track of human footprints, clearly visible in the new-fallen snow. "Whoever it was he came close to our tent, and was evidently going to look in, when I must ...
"I'm sure I don't know," responded Bart, "only it was some one who evidently wanted to get away unobserved. Look, you can trace where he came out of the woods, approached our tent very cautiously, and then, when I frightened him, he took it on the run." This was easy to confirm by the spaces between the footprints, for...
"No need to do that, Stumpy," was Bart's opinion. "You can tell by his tracks that he wasn't near enough to our camp to have stolen anything. Even the bear meat is safe," and he looked to where it was suspended on a tree limb, by means of a long rope, a precaution taken to keep it out of the way of prowling animals. Wi...
"He's gone to the mud volcano--that's where he's gone, fellows!" declared the stout youth. "I wonder what he wants there? Maybe he's after mud turtles. Maybe he's the same man who wrote to me." "He might be almost anybody, Stumpy," was Ned's opinion. "We can't tell until we see him. Get a move on." The footsteps were b...
"Well, we may as well go on to the spring," spoke Fenn. "Maybe we'll find him there." But the vicinity of the mud volcano was deserted, though numerous mud turtles were crawling about over the warm ground, which was devoid of snow. "I'm going closer and have a look," decided Fenn, as he started away from his chums. "Be...
"Oh, I'll chance it," said the heavy-weight lad. He walked close to the edge of the spring, which was motionless save for the water that ran from it. Fenn was looking for footprints in the soft ground, but he and his chums had made so many on their own account, on their previous visits to the place, and, as they were s...
CHAPTER XVI FRANK MAKES PANCAKES "Fellows, he's fallen in a quicksand!" yelled Bart. "Come on, help him out!" "Look out we don't get in it ourselves," cautioned Frank, but it was from no desire to shirk any danger in rescuing his chum that he was thus thoughtful. Rather he wanted to be on the safe side. "Go ahead, Bart...
Ned and Bart started on a run toward their unfortunate chum. Poor Fenn was engulfed almost to his shoulders, and was struggling ineffectually to get out. "Don't worry, we'll save you!" called Bart encouragingly. "Hold on, Stumpy." "That's the trouble--there's nothing to hold on to," panted Fenn. "Is the water hot?" ask...

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