Part 24 (1/2)

answered the old hermit. ”After I saw that spirit I felt like I had a chill. I am not going to stay up here another night---it's bad enough to be here in the daytime.”

The old hermit remained with the boys two hours, and then embarked in his canoe and was soon out of sight down the stream leading to Firefly Lake. The young hunters watched him out of sight with some regret. He had told them he did not think anybody was now on the lake but themselves.

”Well, if we really are here alone we ought not to be troubled by anybody,” was Shep's comment. ”Still, it does seem tremendously lonely.”

”Just listen to the stillness,” remarked Whopper. ”You can cut it out in chunks!”

”No use of listening---I can feel it,” answered Giant. ”But what's the use of acting like that?”

”You'll give us all the blues. Let's be cheerful,” and he began to whistle a merry tune, and one after another the others joined in. Then they started to fix up the tent for the night and cut a quant.i.ty of wood for the fire, and this put them in better spirits.

For supper they had some fine fish, baking them to a turn on some hot stones, in a fas.h.i.+on Jed Sanborn had taught them. They also had hot biscuits---the first since leaving home.

”I think somebody ought to remain on guard after this,” said Shep, when it came time to retire.

”We don't know what to expect in such a place as this. There are the ghosts, and the snakes, and unknown wild beasts, and other things we know nothing of.”

”I am willing,” answered Snap. ”We can divide the night into watches of two hours and a half each, and draw sticks for turns,” and so it was arranged.

It must be confessed that the boys were a trifle timid that night, and those that tried to sleep had hard work to close their eyes.

But no alarm came, and when the sun came up all felt relieved.

”We may stay up here for weeks and never see or hear of that ghost,”

said Snap. ”I don't believe it shows itself very often.”

”Oh, I don't suppose it appears and disappears by the clock, like a cuckoo,” said Whopper. ”It will most likely lay low and scare us to death when we least expect it.”

It was the middle of the forenoon before they were ready to embark on a tour of the lake. They decided to skirt the entire sh.o.r.e, or at least such a portion of it as looked inviting, and then pick out a spot for a regular camp. They proceeded slowly, for there was no need to hurry and they did not wish to miss any spot that might be of especial advantage.

It was not yet noon when they turned into a little cove, bordered by low-hanging bushes. They looked ahead, and then Shep ordered the others to stop rowing.

”I just saw something, back of yonder bushes,” he whispered, excitedly.

”I am not sure, but I think it was a couple of deer!”

CHAPTER XIX

A DANGEROUS DEER HUNT

”Deer!” came from the others.

”Let me get a shot at 'em,” added Whopper, excitedly. ”That's what I came for---to bring down a dozen deer or so!”

”Make it two or three dozen, Whopper,” answered Snap. ”What would you do with a dozen in this warm weather?”

”Send 'em down to the poor folks of the town.”

The announcement that deer were in that vicinity thrilled all the young hunters, and they at once resolved to go ash.o.r.e and see if they could not bring down the game.

”Let us go back a bit,” suggested Shep. ”We don't want this breeze to carry our scent to them. If it does, they'll be off like a shot.”