“No, he is out of it,” agreed Buck. “But who in the world can be doing all this business? I tell you, I’m getting sick and tired of it and I’m going to break loose before long and hunt somebody down.”
“The trouble with your breaking loose is that we don’t know who to hunt down!” smiled Ted.
“No, that is the trouble. But someone is responsible. I don’t believe it is any supernatural element, either, or if it is, that ghost carries a fine sharp knife! When it gets light enough we’ll have to look around for footprints.”
“It won’t be long before it is light now,” said Charlie, glancing at the sky.
The last of the darkness was beginning to break in the east, a broad bar of yellow-white light was appearing. Far over in the west the last of the stars began to fade and as the minutes ticked off the band of light spread and broadened and the aspect of the woods changed. The darkness withdrew and the flush of a new and beautiful day appeared.
“Golly, I never was so glad to see the daytime come!” sighed Drummer, as they stood around the fires watching the advance of the day.
“I guess none of us ever was,” agreed Buck. “And could I eat!”
“Then let’s get at it right now,” said Ted. “We’ll have an early breakfast and then get to work. We are going to have a busy day.”
CHAPTER XIV
THE STORY OF THE BLACK RIDERS
The sun seemed to burst forth from the sky, flooding over the camp as it did so, and never before had the great ball of fire seemed so comforting and cheerful. The fires were going briskly and the coffee was sending out its tempting aroma. Drummer, warming up throughout, was inspired to joke.