Part 21 (2/2)

”What's that?” exclaimed Bart, suddenly sitting up.

”Hus.h.!.+” cautioned Ned. ”Some one is prowling around!”

But Bart's voice had startled the intruder. Ned saw the figure move quickly out of the glare of the flames, and then dart down toward the river.

”They're after our boats!” yelled Bart, who at that moment saw the figure. ”Come on, fellows!”

He ran from the tent followed by his three chums. As he pa.s.sed the fire Bart threw on some light pieces of wood that blazed up quickly.

In the glow the figure of a man could be seen, headed on the run for the little beach, where the boats were tied. As he ran his coat appeared to flap out behind him, the long tails bobbing about from his motion.

”It's that tramp!” exclaimed Ned.

”Hi there!” yelled Bart.

They saw the man make a flying leap into a canoe that was drawn up partly on sh.o.r.e. The violence of the motion sent the frail craft well out into the stream and it was caught by the current.

By this time the boys had reached the sh.o.r.e. At first they supposed it was their canoe which the tramp had stolen, but a second glance showed them the green craft still in place beside the rowboat.

”It's his own canoe,” remarked Frank as the boys watched it floating down stream. There was no sign of the occupant.

”Is he in it or did he set it adrift and start to swim?” inquired Fenn.

All four were standing on the edge of the water peering out over the river in the darkness, the canoe being a deeper blur which alone distinguished it from the surrounding blackness.

”He's probably lying down in it, thinking he may get shot at,” said Bart.

As if to prove his words the sound of paddling was borne to their ears, and the canoe seemed to move faster. The tramp had begun to propel the craft, but they could not see him.

”Let's get back to bed,” suggested Fenn. ”I think we'd better keep watch after this.”

”Not much use,” came from Bart. ”That tramp isn't likely to come back and there's no one else around here. I vote we get what sleep we can.”

It was decided this was as wise a thing as could be done and after replenis.h.i.+ng the fire, so it would burn until morning, the campers crawled back into the tent and slept until sunrise, no further alarms disturbing them.

”Well, fellows,” called Frank when the things had been put away. ”What's the program for to-day?”

”We'll row up stream until noon,” said Bart, ”camp and have dinner, and, if we like the place, stay all night. If we don't we'll move on to a better one.”

The boat was soon loaded and, with the canoe towing along behind, the trip was resumed. The river wound in and out through a wooded country for a few miles and then they came to a long straight stretch where it flowed between level fields.

As the boat was urged up stream under the impulse of the oars in the hands of Bart and Fenn, Ned, who was resting in the bow, called out:

”Steer her out a bit, Frank. There's a man fis.h.i.+ng just ahead of us and we don't want to disturb him.”

Frank who was at the rudder lines glanced up and saw, about a quarter of a mile ahead, a man standing up to his waist in water.

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