CHAPTER XXIX
A STRANGE MEETING IN THE FOREST
Despite Whopper's nightmare and what had followed, the boy hunters slept soundly for the rest of the night. All arose at daybreak and procured what was destined to be their last meal in the camp for that season.
"I rather hate to leave the spot," said Snap, while packing away the breakfast things. "We have had some good fun here."
"We must come back some time, by all means," declared Shep. "Maybe this winter."
"Yes, some hunting up here in mid-winter wouldn't go bad," came from Giant. "We could bring snowshoes along and have jolly times."
"That's the talk!" ejaculated Whopper. "I have always wanted to go hunting on snowshoes, And we could build a big snowhouse, too."
"Well, that is something to talk over another time," put in Snap. "Remember, just now we want to locate that mill robber if we can, and also get those bears home."
It took quite some time to pack all of the things aboard the rowboat, and the craft was heavily loaded with the outfit and the game.
"Will it carry us, too?" questioned Shep, as he looked at the boat dubiously.
"It has got to carry us," declared Whopper. "But it will be rather hard rowing."
All tried the boat and found it would carry them, although the gunwale sank low into the water. Then they cleaned up the camp, shut up the cabin, and were all ready for the start.
"Good-by to the camp!" cried Giant, lifting his cap.
"And hurrah for the first outing of our gun club!" added Snap. And they gave the cheers with a will.
Snap and Whopper took the oars first, and the course was out of
Firefly Lake and through the narrow watercourse running into Lake
Cameron. It was a cool, clear day, with a stiff breeze stirring
the bushes and trees of the forest.
"I see some turkeys!" cried Shep, while on the way. "I must have a last shot!"
"And so must I!" came from the others.
All caught up their guns, and as the boat drifted closer to the game, each let drive. Two of the turkeys were killed outright, while two more were badly wounded and easily secured.
"One each!" said Giant.
"Exactly," answered Snap. "And now we have got to stop or we'll sink the boat sure."
"Well, enough is enough," said Whopper. "I think, all told, we have had the best luck possible."
"Even if we didn't get a silver deer."
"That's so—-I forgot about that deer. Well, he will keep for another time, eh, fellows?"
"That's right."
It was shortly after noon that they turned into Lake Cameron and landed near the mouth of that body of water. All were hungry, and partook readily of the lunch that had been brought along.
"Now, what's the next part of the programme?" asked Giant, looking at Snap.
"I don't think it will be advisable for us to show ourselves to the Felps crowd," answered the leader of the gun club.
"Oh, let us do a little scout work!" said Whopper. "We can easily hide the boat and get around to the camp on foot."
The matter was talked over while they ate their mid-day meal, and at the conclusion of the repast they shoved the rowboat with its load into a cove and under some overhanging brushwood. Then, taking only their guns and game-bags and some provisions, they set off for their first camping spot on foot.
"We must be on our guard," cautioned Snap.
"I do not want any of those men to see us if it can possibly be avoided."
"We'll watch out," answered Shep.
A minute later half a dozen fat rabbits crossed their path directly in front of them. The temptation to bring the game down was strong, but they resisted, not wishing to make any noise. A little later they heard two gunshots at a distance.
"Some of the men must be out hunting," observed Giant.
"Gracious! I hope they don't mistake us for game," cried Whopper.
"Let us walk more in the open," answered Snap. "Then they can't make any mistake."
The way was rocky and uneven, and long before they came in sight of their first camp the boys were somewhat footsore and weary.
"This isn't the nicest kind of tramping in the world, is it?" came from Shep.
"Don't say a word," answered Giant. "I just came within an inch of twisting my left ankle."
They had a small brook to cross and there stopped for a drink of water. They were just going on again when another distant gunshot sounded out.
"They must be doing a lot of hunting to-day," observed Snap. "I'd like to know if they can bring anything down."
"Not if what that old guide said was true," answered Shep.
They advanced a few yards further, when Shep suddenly halted and made his chums do the same.
"What's up now?" whispered Whopper. "See a bear?"
"Whopper has bears on the brain," came from Giant, with a grin.
"I see two men over back of yonder rocks," answered Snap. "They seem to be doing some hard talking."
"Who are they?"
"One of them is Andrew Felps."
"And the other?"
"I don't know who he is."
"He is the man we are after!" cried Whopper "Don't you see his red hair and red moustache?"
"Let us go around the rocks and get closer in that way," said
Snap, and his suggestion was followed out promptly.
"Well, what do you want of me, anyway, Barrock?" they heard Andrew
Felps say to the man with the red hair.
"I want to talk business," answered Lush Barrock, as he was commonly called.
"Well, get to business, then," went on the lumber merchant. "I am not going to stay here all day. You said you had something to say that would interest me."
"It's true, too, Mr. Felps."
"Well, out with it, then."
Lush Barrock paused and cleared his throat. Evidently he did not know exactly how to go about what he had in mind to do.
"I reckon you know the Barnaby lumber folks," he began.
"Yes," was the short answer.
"They have been trying to get hold of a certain lumber tract up at the Spur Road."
"What of that?"
"I understand your company has been trying to get hold of the same tract of land."
"What business is that of yours?"
"None of my business—-in one way—-but a good deal of my business in another way."
"I don't understand you, Barrock. Stop talking in riddles and get down to business."
"Can I trust you, Mr. Felps? I mean, will you keep a secret?"
"That depends," answered Andrew Felps, coldly.
"I want to help you so that you can get the best of the Barnaby people."
"How can you help me?"
"I'll tell you if you'll promise to keep the matter a secret."
"Hum!" The lumber merchant paused for a moment. "Well, go on."
"You won't give me away?"
"No."
"Well, when they got their right to that Spur Road tract certain papers had to be signed."
"I know that."
"Then they had a fire at their sawmill."
"I know that, too."
"During that fire those papers disappeared."
"Ha!" cried Andrew Felps, with interest. "You are certain of that?"
"I am."
"And you—-you——-" The lumber dealer paused.
"In a roundabout way I met the fellow who had the papers. For a consideration he let me have them. If you want them you can have them—-provided you will pay the price."