tsmen, especially Bluff,
who wanted to know everything connected with the game they expected to
hunt.

"He's trying to forget his great disappointment," said Frank as he and
Jerry watched the other plying Mr. Mabie with these queries; for Bluff
was the son of a lawyer, and would never take things for granted.

"What's that?" asked Jerry, for no one had been told about the loss that
had come to Bluff.

"Can't find that knife of his anywhere, it seems, and believes he must
have left it behind. He was looking mighty blue when I found him in the
room, with all our stuff tumbled, pell-mell, out of the trunk."

Frank eyed his chum as he spoke. Jerry turned a little red.

"Not guilty, Frank! I give you my word I never touched the measly old
knife. I'm sorry for him, too, for he seemed so bent on doing great
stunts with it. I'll take a look myself," he said hastily, and yet
meeting his chum's gaze in such a straightforward fashion that Frank
never doubted his word for an instant.

"No use doing that. He rooted the whole outfit over. The knife is gone,
and that's sure! I've been thinking some about it."

"And had a bright idea, I warrant. What's your solution of the
mystery?"

"Why, you see, Jerry, I can clearly recollect Nellie's startled look
when Bluff showed her that terribly large knife. She's afraid of such
things. I'm sure she must have worried some about it, and I was
thinking--"

"What?"

"That perhaps she may have considered it prudent to hide it away so that
he couldn't find it again. I believe she would in my case, anyhow. It
would be just like Nellie."

"Oh, well, it doesn't matter much, only Bluff is such a fellow to hang
on a thing he'll never give us any peace about it. Have you asked Will?"
said Jerry.

"No. I will, though; but I don't think he would bother his head about a
dozen knives. If it were a camera, now, or a rapid-action rectilinear
lens, you could depend on him to take notice."

Frank was as good as his word. Will denied having touched the article in
question, and said he was sorry to hear Bluff would be deprived of a
pleasure.

And so for the time being the mystery remained such, with Bluff
occasionally digging into that trunk in a vain search, and always
sighing mournfully because he failed to bring the lost treasure to
light.

The boys bunked in one big room. It was very much like a picnic for
them, and would often bring back pleasant memories whenever they looked
at the rathe