"But I know you feel unpleasant in being thus left alone."
"I know I shall be glad to see Tim come back again, for there is always great danger in such a small party separating."
"Halloo! there goes his gun or somebody else's."
The sharp crack of the rifle came from the shore, and Elwood was sure he saw the faint smoke of the discharge ascend from some thick bushes near the edge of the wood. But he was no doubt mistaken, for as they scrutinized the spot they detected nothing of him who had fired the gun.
"I suppose it was Tim firing at some game. You know he is not a very good shot, and so he has badly wounded without killing it."
"Then we ought to hear his gun again."
"We shall no doubt——"
"Hark!"
Crack went a gun, almost instantly followed by three similar reports. The boys turned pale and looked at each other.
"What does that mean?" whispered Elwood.