as still boy enough to appreciate Sparrer's feelings.
"As long as you had to get it I'm glad it was a real redskin who put it
across," said he. "As for fighting, it doesn't look to me as if we were
going to see any of it. Pat isn't going to take any chances on one of us
getting hurt. It makes me sick every time I think of the close call
Sparrer had. If Pat and Alec find the camp of those brutes they won't do
anything rash. They'll try to trap 'em some way. They're right about us,
but just the same I wish we could be in it somehow. I'd like to see the
finish."

"Perhaps we shall yet," Hal spoke hopefully. "Shall we turn in?"

"What's the use?" returned Upton. "I couldn't sleep a wink until Pat and
Alec get back. We ought to keep the fire going and have something hot
ready for them when they get in."

"Suits me," declared Hal. "I couldn't sleep either."

Sparrer was of the same opinion, so they sat before the fire and
speculated on what was happening out there in the forest. Sparrer was
plied with questions about his adventure and told the story over so
graphically that the thrill of it sent little shivers down the backs of
his listeners. At times they sat in silence wondering if they might hear
distant rifle shots. And so the night wore on, the most exciting night
in their experience, and yet a night in which so far as they were
concerned nothing happened.

CHAPTER XVII

THE CAMP OF THE POACHERS

Upton had just glanced at his watch and noted that the hour was 3 A. M.
Hal and Sparrer were both asleep, the long vigil having proved too much
for them despite their assertions early in the evening that they
couldn't sleep a wink. A slight sound outside the door caught Walter's
attention. A second later the door swung open and Pat and Alec entered.
It was clear that they had expected to find all the boys asleep, and
were endeavoring to make as little noise as possible.

Walter flashed a keen look at the two faces and read there the success
of the trip. "Hey, you sleepy-heads, they've found the camp!" he
shouted, thumping Hal on the back.

"Wha-wha-what?" stammered Hal, rubbing his eyes and staring about him
wildly, while Sparrer blinked stupidly. Then fully recovering his senses
Hal sprang to his feet. "Did you really find the camp?" he asked
eagerly.

Pat nodded. "Hurrah!" cried the impetuous boy. "Say, who hit me? I was
right in the middle of a dream. I had three outlaws lined up against a
cabin wall and