Part 22 (1/2)

Both men moved their cars to higher ground lest flood waters continue to rise. Then, followed by the Cubs, they circled around to the old logging road, approaching the dam from the upper and drier side.

”Why Dobbs would leave a mess like that in the stream, I can't figure!”

Mr. Silverton exclaimed in disgust as he caught sight of the jam. ”He must have known about it, but he never spoke of it to me.”

Mr. Hatfield casually pointed out that the logs formed a natural bridge, adding: ”Almost as if they had been laid deliberately.”

”They do at that!” the sportsman agreed. ”Let's have a closer look.”

While Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs waited on dry land, he waded out to examine the acc.u.mulation of debris. When he returned to the group a few minutes later, his expression was grim.

”You're right, Mr. Hatfield,” he declared. ”I'm convinced those logs were placed deliberately. Apparently, more has been going on here than I suspected!”

”Any chance to dislodge them?” the Cub leader questioned.

”Not without a crew of men. But a stick of dynamite would do the trick. I think Saul Dobbs has some locked up in the tool house.”

While the Cubs waited, the two men started back to the house to obtain the dynamite.

”What I can't figure, is why anyone would go to the trouble of making a log bridge at this particular point,” Dan said, frowning as he watched the water spill over the makes.h.i.+ft dam. ”Farther up stream, there's a perfectly good foot bridge.”

”This section is near the restricted part of the woods,” Brad commented.

”Mr. Silverton keeps his best Germain pheasants there. And say! I wonder if they're safe?”

”The water's backing up fast in that direction,” Red observed.

”Maybe we ought to investigate,” Dan proposed. ”Think it's safe to cross the dam?”

”The water isn't more than ankle deep,” Brad decided. ”We can get across if we're careful.”

Joining hands, the Cubs cautiously waded through the shallow sheet of water which coursed over the top of the dam.

”Mack, you and Fred stay here to wait for Mr. Hatfield and Silverton,”

Brad instructed. ”Otherwise, they'll wonder what became of us.”

Though disappointed to be left behind, the two Cubs made no protest.

Brad, Dan, Chips and Red, then went on alone.

”Chips, I wish you'd show us again where you and Red picked up those pheasant feathers,” Brad said suddenly.

”Sure, providing the place isn't under water,” the other agreed. ”I guess it won't be, because we're moving into higher ground.”

The four Cubs continued for a short distance, and then Red and Chips fell into an argument as to the exact place where they had found the feathers.

”It was right here,” Red insisted, indicating a small clearing.

”No, it wasn't,” denied Chips. ”It was farther on.”