“For cats’ sake!” exclaimed Ned, “aren’t you done playing with that yet, Fenn?”
“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 roast, just as you prefer.”
“Oh, come on hunting,” pleaded Bart. “What’s the fun in staying here?”
“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’ll have something to show you.”
They tried to induce Fenn to accompany them, but he was firm in his determination to solve the “turtle mystery,” as he called it, and, in the end, Bart, Ned and Frank tramped off through the storm, for it was still snowing, while the stout lad remained behind, watching the turtle, which he had placed on a cleared place on the ground in front of the tent.