amp fire Snap and Giant had
started.

"Might as well steer straight for the camp fire," said Shep. "It
will save us some walking."

When within a few hundred feet of the camp they set up a loud
whistle, to which the others immediately responded. Then Snap and
Giant came to meet them, and relieved them of some of the things.
A little later all were seated around the camp fire.

"So you got through all O.K., eh?" said the doctor's son, after Snap
and Giant had told their story. "Well, so did we---but we had some
queer things happen." And then he and Whopper told of the tumbles,
and of what had occurred at the old cabin in the woods.

"Say, wish I had been along!" cried Snap. "I'd like to investigate
that cabin and see who is there."

"You wouldn't want to investigate a block of wood or a stone thrown
at your head, would you?" demanded Whopper sarcastically.

"Maybe we could go there when the hermit---or whatever he or she
is---is asleep," went on Snap. He always believed in getting at the
bottom of a mystery.

"If you go there you'll go without me," declared Whopper firmly.
"I wouldn't tempt that---er---crazy fellow again for a billion
dollars! Why, he might come out and carve a chap all up with a
butcher knife, or blow your head off with a gun!"

Supper was ready, and while they were talking the young hunters
managed to stow away a hearty meal, after, which all felt better.
But the experiences of the day had worn them out, and each was
glad enough to retire early.

"We want to be stirring early to-morrow," said the doctor's son.
"We want to go up the lake and then begin to tote the outfit over
the hills to the mountains."

"How about it---going to set a guard?" asked Giant.

"Wonder if we can't put Wags on guard?" asked Snap.

"I think he'd bark if anything came to disturb us," came from
Whopper.

"We'll tie him to the front tent pole," said the doctor's son. "Then
he won't be able to run off, and more than likely he'll bark if
anything goes wrong."

They fixed the camp fire and then tied the collie fast by a cord
slipped under his collar. Evidently Wags was used to this treatment,
for he did not seem to mind it in the least. The young hunters
entered the tent, and in less than a quarter of an hour all were
sound asleep.

Thus an hour passed. Then, of a sudden, all the lads found themselves
wide awake. Wags was barking furiously, and the hair of his body
seemed to be fairly standing on e