"Not a word," Jet replied, grimly. "I guess he was too busy getting ready to leave, for he had to pack all our provisions, my gun and the other things which were lying around into the boat."
"What do you mean?" Jim cried, as he gazed about him and failed to see any of their outfit.
"I reckon he's gone to Raquette Lake with the two fellows who were camping over on the point."
"Have they skipped?" and now Jim's eyes were opened very wide.
"Went yesterday morning bag and baggage."
"What'll we do when the officer comes to arrest 'em?"
"See here, Jim, are you so stupid as not to know what has happened?"
"Why don't you tell me?" the guide screamed.
"Because you have been giving me the story. The very jolly fellow you met was a friend of the men I came here to watch; he talked with you long enough to find out that the telegram you were carrying concerned them in some way, and cooked up the yarn about Pine Pond, in order to get hold of it. Then he came down to hunt me, stole the things to prevent our following him, and skipped on to look for his pals."
Jim gazed at his friend with dilated eyes while this explanation was being made, and when Jet concluded, he said in a half-whisper: