d to them. The last thing they remembered,
before losing consciousness, was Kyle Sparwick's sleeping figure in
another bunk across the room.

Banging and rattling of dishes; clattering footsteps; angry voices and
shouts--this was what roused the boys after what seemed to them but a
few minutes' sleep.

They tumbled out of bed, and rubbed their eyes. At first they did not
know what to make of the confusion. The misty light of dawn was
struggling with the red glow from the cook's stove. The loggers were up,
and clustered together at one side of the room. They were clamoring, and
gesticulating, and uttering tremendous threats and oaths.

"Hello, youngsters!" cried Thomson. "Hev you heard the news? That
consarned slippery cuss is gone. We might a-knowed better than to put
any trust in Kyle Sparwick."

"How did he get away?" asked Jerry.

"Dunno. He must a-skipped off as soon as we wus all asleep--long about
two o'clock. He made a dummy outen a blanket, and an old hat, an' stuck
it in his bunk. There was a lamp burnin' dim on the table, too."

"I mind hearin' a noise," said a logger named Tommy Bobb; "but I was too
sleepy to do more'n sing out, 'Who's thar.'"

"You must a-skeered him," declared Thomson, "an' that's why he didn't
take nothing with him--not even his own gun. Thar it rests on the hook."

"He took something better than a gun," exclaimed Brick, who had
meanwhile been examining his pocket. "He took my gold watch, and a purse
with thirty dollars in it. I had some more money in a belt, but that's
all right."

This declaration caused a renewal of the excitement. The loggers
sympathized with Brick, and offered him rude consolation.

"How about you fellers?" asked Tommy Bobb of Hamp and Jerry.

They shook their heads and smiled. The contents of their pockets would
have offered no temptation to the meanest sort of a thief.

"I don't mind the money," said Brick; "but I hate to lose the watch. I'm
going after that sneaking rascal."

"No use, youngster," assured Thomson. "Sparwick has a big start. He took
an old boat what we had here, an' went down the Mallowgash. He'd have
clear water fur four miles. Then I reckon he'd strike deep inter the
woods. If thar was a chance of gettin' him we'd make up a party. How's
that, boys?"

"Dead right," exclaimed the loggers, in chorus.

Brick accepted this as final. He was anxious to start for the lake,
however, and so were Hamp and Jerry.

But just when breakfast wa