Part 12 (1/2)

”There's some wild animal in there,” cried Nugget hoa.r.s.ely. ”It looked at me with its s.h.i.+ning eyes, and then growled. Shoot it quick, before it comes out.”

Just then the rustling in the thicket recommenced, and with wonderful celerity Nugget disappeared into the heart of the tree.

But the creature, whatever it might be, was going in the opposite direction from the pool. This emboldened Clay, and without hesitation he started in pursuit, paying no attention to Nugget's appealing cries.

Guided by the thres.h.i.+ng of bushes he pushed on for ten or twenty yards.

Then it suddenly occurred to him that the animal might be a wildcat or even a bear, that had strayed down from the mountains. A close encounter of this nature was by no means to Clay's liking. He stopped, and was just about turning back, when he saw a dark object pa.s.sing through a break in the thicket about thirty feet away.

The shadows were too deep to afford a good glimpse of the animal, but Clay did not hesitate. Drawing the gun to his shoulder he took quick aim and fired.

When the smoke cleared the creature had vanished, but from a distance came a queer grunting noise mingled with the hasty cras.h.i.+ng of the bushes.

”I believe that was a bear,” muttered Clay, ”and unless I'm greatly mistaken I put a few shot into his hind quarters.”

He stood listening until the sounds had died away, and then retraced his steps toward the pool, satisfied that no more trouble was to be apprehended from the unwelcome prowler.

Nugget was still in the tree, and came down very reluctantly, even when he knew what had happened. Then the boys shouldered their fis.h.i.+ng rods and hurried back to camp, arriving there just as Ned and Randy paddled up the mouth of the stream.

Clay's adventure--which he related with conscious pride--caused somewhat of a sensation. Randy and Nugget wanted to break camp at once, and Clay was more than inclined to side with them.

”Nonsense!” exclaimed Ned. ”I don't believe it was a wild animal at all, and even if it was it would hardly come near here again after being shot at.”

”Then what could it have been?” demanded Clay a little sharply.

”Some stray domestic creature, as likely as not,” answered Ned.

Clay did not reply. He was far from unwilling to accept this version of the affair, though he still had his doubts.

The others were rea.s.sured by Ned's words, and when the fruits of the foraging expedition were taken from the canoes all else was forgotten but supper.

”Won't we have a feast?” said Randy. ”Just see here, fellows. Fresh, yellow b.u.t.ter, a pail of milk, three pies, two loaves of bread, a cup of cheese, a picked duck, and potatoes and apples! We had a time to get them, though--a mile and a half down the creek, and half a mile over the fields.”

It was nearly dark when supper was ready, and the meal was eaten with such slow enjoyment that nine o'clock arrived before the last of the dishes were washed and put away. Then the tired boys went to bed, after securing the tent flaps with more than usual care.

No alarm disturbed their sleep that night. Wednesday dawned clear as a whistle. Before the sun was fairly up the boys took a plunge in the cool depths of the pool, and the result was such a crop of voracious appet.i.tes that Randy predicted another foraging expedition before the day was over.

After breakfast Ned sat down on a stone, and spreading a lengthy paper on his knees, began to study it intently.

”What have you there?” asked Randy.

”A map of the c.u.mberland Valley,” replied Ned. ”Do you know, we almost forgot about our mail arrangements? It's a good thing I remembered it this morning. If this stream we are camping on now is Otter Run--and according to the-map it is--then West Hill is only half a dozen miles due east of us.

”That is the first place we were to expect letters, and we won't get any nearer to it than we are now. I think I'll walk over. You may go with me, Clay, if you like. The distance is too much for Nugget, and it's Randy's turn to stay in camp.”

No objection was made to this arrangement, and all hurriedly produced paper and pencils and sat down on the gra.s.s to write letters home.

”I'm asking for a cake,” said Randy. ”Where shall I have it sent?”

”Carlisle,” answered Ned. ”We will be there next week. Tell them to make it a big one.”