e reply.

A few minutes later Snap announced that he could touch bottom.
All strained their eyes and thought they could see the shore
at a short distance.

Snap forced the craft in that direction and soon found himself
in water but three feet deep.

"We are all right now, boys!" he called out. "Come, let us pull
the boat in."

They did so, and soon the four young hunters were standing in the
sopping wet brushwood on the edge of the lake. They had no idea
where they had landed and only a dim notion regarding the location
of their camp.

"I think the best thing we can do," said Snap, "is to stay around
here somewhere and start a good big camp-fire. If we try to get
back to our camp we may get lost and also take our death of cold.
The quicker we start a fire the better it will be for us."

"All right, start a fire," said Whopper. "But it is going to be
no easy matter---with all the wood so wet."

"Look yonder, boys!" cried Giant. "Am I mistaken, or do I see
a light?"

"It certainly is a light," said Shep, looking in the direction
pointed out---a place quite a distance from the lake. "Maybe
some other campers are around."

"I hope so," said Snap. "Perhaps we can get something to eat."

All were hungry as well as cold, and the idea of a meal appealed
to them strongly. Snap led the way through the low brushwood in
the direction of the camp-fire, which was burning under a series of
overhanging rocks.

"Let me see what sort of a place it is first," warned Snap, as they
drew closer. "We don't want to run into any tramps or worse."

Nobody appeared to be around the camp-fire, which was burning
brightly in spite of the rain and wind. It was a well-sheltered
spot, and in the rocks was a hollowed-out place, against which
leaned some split logs, forming a rude shack.

Catching up a firebrand, Snap gazed into the shack. He gave a good
look and then came outside and held up his hand for silence.

"I've made a discovery," he whispered, excitedly.

"What?" asked the others.

"Do you remember that negro who stole Pop Lundy's watch?"

"Yes."

"Well, he is in there, fast asleep!"

"That rascal!" cried Shep. "Are you sure?"

"Look for yourselves."

They did so and saw that it was the same colored man beyond the
shadow of a doubt. He rested on a couch of pine boughs, flat on
his back and snoring lustily. He was evidently the only occupant
of the camp.

"Look there!" whispered Giant, pointing to a