Part 38 (2/2)

The trail was very narrow in places, so that they had to walk in single file It h the forest, and then caed rocks Here there was a s of pure, cold water

”It looks to me as if the animals used this trail when they wanted a drink,” was Luke's co down, he took a deep draught ”It's fine,” he went on; ”try it!”

The others did as requested, and agreed with Luke that the water was as good as any they had ever tasted Then beganthey found another trail, this ti to the ard

The boys pushed forward once again, Dave still in the lead; and thus a half mile more was covered Then they found themselves between a number of rocks where, presently, the trail seeetting anywhere,” announced Phil, as having cliain his breath

”That's right!” broke in Luke ”And say, we had better go slow unless soround I ever tried to get over”

”It is easier walking just ahead,” announced Dave, who now stood on the top of one of the rocks, gazing forward ”Come on! I think I see the trail too,” and he made a leap from one rock to another and was soon soh rocks left behind, the boys came out on a trail which seemed to come from the north and lead directly up a steep hillside well covered with tall trees Here the shade was very thick, and the slight breeze that was stirring made the atmosphere decidedly cool

”Wonder what time it is?” remarked Luke, and drew out his watch as he spoke ”Well, I never! Only ten o'clock! I thought it hed Dave ”If you are, we ht stop for a bite”

”That's it! let's have a bite to eat, and rest at the sah for several meals”

The boys sat in a sort of circle on so partook of a light lunch from one of the knapsacks

Then they moved forward, up the hillside, and presently found themselves on the top of the rise

”Here is quite a view!” announced Shadow, and they spent a little ti in the panorama spread before them On one side they could see Mirror Lake, and on the other the nearby uessed was that running to Carpen Falls and the villages beyond

”See anything worth looking at outside of the scenery?” questioned Roger of our hero

”I see some smoke down in yonder hollow,” announced Dave ”That must come either from some campfire or else from some cabin, and whether it is fro ht you are, Dave! And that hu may be that wild man, or Link Merwell,” answered Ben, quickly

”How far do you think it is to that suesses were made, and the consensus of opinion was that the smoke was not over half aoff in that direction,” said Dave, and a few minutes later the boys struck out oncedown into the holloeen the hills and the nearby mountain was by no means as easy as they had anticipated

The way proved exceedingly rough, and er of a serious tumble As it was, Shadow slipped on the rocks and scraped his hands in several places Then Luke gave a grunt, announcing that he had barked his left shi+n

Dave was still in advance, and now he made a leap from a rock into some low brushwood As he did this there came a sudden cry and a snarl, followed by the h the brushwood a short distance ahead

”hello! as that?” cried Phil, as nearest to our hero

”I didn't get a very good view of it, Phil,” answered Dave, who now had his rifle ready for use, ”but unless I was much mistaken, it was a wildcat”

”A wildcat! Great Caesar! We don't want to run into any such beast as that, Dave”