s had a queer idea of what to take," said the doctor's
son slowly. "A shirt, a belt, one sock, a camera and a gun. Why in
the name of goodness did he take one sock and not the other?"

"He certainly threw things around pretty well," said Giant. "Maybe
it was a wild animal," he continued suddenly.

"No wild animal would walk off with a camera and a gun, Giant,"
returned Snap. "Ha! I have it!" he cried. "That crazy hermit!"

"Maybe you're right," said Shep. "It would be just like such a
fellow to do a thing like this."

"And if he did this he must certainly have taken the watch," went
on Snap.

"It would seem so."

The boys lost no time in dressing. As it was warm, Shep did not
miss his shirt very much, nor did Giant miss his sock. Having no
belt, Snap used a piece of stout cord instead.

"The loss of the gun is bad," said the doctor's son as they were
finishing their toilet. "For if that crazy fellow has it, it will
be so much harder to tackle him."

"That's true," answered Snap. "Maybe he'll shoot himself with
it---if he's so very crazy."

"Oh, we'll not hope that," murmured Giant.

They took the dead foxes and hung them high up in a tree, intending,
if possible, to come for them later and turn the meat over to the
captured lion. Then they pushed forward in the direction of the
rocky waterway that connected the two lakes.

"You'll have to lead," said Snap to the doctor's son. "You've
been here before."

"I'll lead as well as I can," was the answer. "But there is no
regular trail---that is, on the other side of the river."

The walking now became very rough, and the three young hunters had
to proceed slowly. At times they were in sight of the water, but
often their course led them inland for a hundred yards or more.

"These rocks are something fierce!" exclaimed Giant at length, after
slipping and sliding several times.

"You beware that you don't twist an ankle," cautioned Snap.

Presently they reached a spot where further progress seemed impossible.
Giant and Snap halted and looked at Shep.

Before them was a little hollow, filled with small stones, and
beyond were some shelving rocks with large cracks between. Over
the shelving rocks grew heavy masses of vines.

"Don't drag," urged the doctor's son. "It is getting late. The
sun will be down in another hour."

"I can't go any faster," panted Giant. All three advanced and
tried to climb the shelving rocks by holding on to the