“I wish we could make out their faces,” said Hamp. “They’ve come across the lake, just as we did.”
“Perhaps they are following us,” suggested Brick, uneasily.
“Hardly,” replied Jerry. “Where are they now, Hamp?”
“Just climbing the bank. Now they’ve disappeared in the woods.”
And Hamp lowered the glasses, and restored them to Brick.
After some futile discussion of the mystery, the boys went back to camp. It was natural that they should feel a little curious and alarmed. Ruffianly characters are often encountered in the Maine wilderness.
When supper was over the boys cheered up. They washed the dishes, and then built a roaring fire of great logs directly in front of the cabin. With blankets wrapped about their shoulders they sat beside the flames.
All at once Hamp sprang in excitement to his feet. He pointed toward the lower side of the ravine.
“Look!” he cried. “Oh! it’s gone now. I saw a face peeping from behind the trees.”
“What did the fellow look like?” demanded Jerry.