“How is it?” Buck cried, from his post on the bank.
“Fine!” replied Ted. “Warm as toast!”
“Doesn’t feel like any toast I ever had to my feet,” Buck replied, poising for his dive. “But I guess it is all right when you get in. Here goes!”
He flashed downward in a fine dive and when he appeared on the surface of the water he looked at the grinning Ted. “Wow! what nice cold water!” he shouted. “This may be Bear Creek, and I’ll say it is a bear! Warm as toast, eh?”
After the invigorating swim they dressed and the task of preparing breakfast was undertaken. The effects of the camping trip were beginning to tell, for all the boys had developed hearty appetites and looked in a fair way to sinking the provision pile alarmingly.
Ted and Buck managed to take a quick look back of the tents but there was no trace of the night visitor. They were inclined to think that it was merely some neighboring farmer, though they confessed that his zeal must have been great to have brought him in curiosity to that spot at such a time.
“Anyhow, nobody knows about it,” Buck said, but he was mistaken. Plum spoke up as they were eating breakfast.
“Who was going around with a lantern last night?” he asked. There was a general stir of interest.
“Who says anybody was?” Buck asked, coolly.
“I saw it,” was the confident assertion. “I slept in your tent and you went out and talked to Ted, only I couldn’t make out what you said. Then you two went for a walk around the tents.”