"It'll make them crazy when they hear of it," said Frank, complacently.
"You bet it will," agreed Bob.
"And we can have a big fire outside the cave, and one of us will keep watch while the others sleep," put in Sammy.
"And we can catch our own fish and have them for breakfast fresh from the river," exulted Bob. "Yum-yum."
The surroundings were so romantic and the outlook for the future so rosy that they sat around for several hours, reluctant to leave their cozy shelter.
"Jiminy!" exclaimed George, looking at his watch. "It's getting on toward supper time. Mrs. Claxton will be worried if we are late. We'd better get a hustle on."
There was nothing further to be apprehended now from the group of lynchers and the boys hid the boat in a sheltered place under some overhanging trees. Then they mounted their horses and rode down to get the mess of fish they had promised their hostess for supper.
But to their great astonishment, not a fish was to be seen. Every one of the thirty or more had disappeared!