een
seen.

"Suppose I go ahead and take a look?" asked Shep, and the others
nodded. A moment later the doctor's son disappeared among the
bushes lining the lake shore.

When he came back he said the deer were moving up the lake front
and as a consequence all hands followed with all possible speed.
They kept up the chase for nearly an hour and once saw the game,
but the deer were too far away to take a shot. Then the game
started to run, and speedily disappeared.

"That's the time we got left," grumbled Shep. "Too bad!"

"It can't be helped," answered Snap. "We can't expect to bring
down something every time we go out. If we did that there would
be no fun in hunting."

Then the young hunters started back for camp, never dreaming of
the disagreeable surprise which awaited them.

CHAPTER XXI

IN WHICH THE ENEMY APPEARS AGAIN

On the way back to camp Shep brought down a squirrel and Whopper
knocked over a rabbit, so the quest after game was not altogether
fruitless.

The boys had covered a good stretch of ground, and they were pretty
well tired out when they came within sight of the cabin.

"Oh, fellows, look!" screamed Giant suddenly. "The cabin is on
fire!"

He pointed ahead, and a glance showed his chums that he spoke the
truth. All broke into a run, and they reached the shelter almost
in the time it takes to tell it. Smoke was coming out of the door
and windows, but as yet the fire had gained little headway.
It was confined to some brushwood which had been thrust inside,
against one of the log walls.

"Some enemy has done this!" cried Snap, angrily. "Look out, I am
going to drag this fire outside."

With his bare hands Snap caught at one end of burning brush and
hauled it through the open doorway. As soon as he had done this
the doctor's son leaped into the cabin and kicked out the rest of
the fire. He could stay but a minute, for the smoke almost
strangled him. Then Whopper and Giant went in and made certain
the fire was out. Soon the smoke commenced to clear away; and
the momentary excitement was over.

"Now, what does this mean?" demanded Snap, and his voice was full
of anger.

"It means that we have been cleaned out," answered the doctor's
son, after a hasty glance around. "Look!"

He pointed to a shelf in a corner on which they, had placed some
of their stores, and then to the fireplace, and to the log that
had contained their cups, plates and cooking utensils. Everyt