d Sanborn. The
boys went hunting several times and brought in a variety of small
game. They made a trip to the mountain-top and got several more
photographs of value. Films and plates were carefully stored away
in water-and-light-tight cases.

"I am sure my father will be greatly pleased when he sees what we
have accomplished," said Shep. "I don't believe he thought we
could do so well."

On Tuesday morning, just after breakfast, the young hunters heard
somebody coming through the woods toward them. Wags set up a
violent barking.

"Maybe it's Sanborn with the circus folks," said Whopper.

"Oh, what shall I do?" asked Tommy in alarm. "I don't want them
to see me."

"It's the Spink crowd!" cried Giant. "Say, something must be wrong!
Look how excited they are!"

"We ought to shoot 'em---that's what we ought to do!" they heard
Carl Dudder say loudly.

"We'll make 'em pay for the things, that's what we'll make 'em do,"
answered Ham Spink.

"Call off your dog, you rascals!" sang out Dick Bush, for Wags had
walked toward him, barking angrily.

"Come here, Wags!" cried Tommy, and the collie obeyed instantly. But
he evidently knew that the newcomers were enemies, for he continued
to eye them suspiciously.

"Think you're smart, don't you?" roared Ham Spink, striding into
the camp and facing Shep and Snap. "Well, I want you to know that
you have gone too far. You've got to pay damages, or we'll have
you all locked up."

"You've got to pay for my new suit of clothes," said Ike Akley.
"It is utterly ruined."

"And my sweater," said Dick Bush.

"And I want to know where my shoes are?" put in Carl Dudder. "And
my briar-root pipe and tobacco."

"Yes, and my silver matchcase, and a whole lot of other things,"
said Ham Spink.

"Yes; and what right had you to make a roughhouse of our camp?"
demanded another boy.

"All of our stores are ruined," put in still another.

"It was mean to scatter that coffee in the mud!"

"And the sugar and beans!"

"Yes; and put the salt in the flour!"

So the talk ran on, the newcomers getting more and more excited
every moment. They had their guns with them, and looked as if they
meant to do serious harm to our friends.

"See here, what are you talking about?" asked the doctor's son at
last. "I can't make head or tail of it." He realized that
something unusual had occurred.

This brought forth another volley of accusations from the Spink
crowd. Their camp had