hing
was gone.

"Robbed!" said Whopper, laconically. "What a shame!

"And they were going to burn down the cabin on us, too," added
Giant, bitterly. "I wonder if they touched the boat?"

At this question all ran outside and down to where the _Snapper_
had been tied to an overhanging tree. The rowboat had disappeared.

"Well, if this isn't the limit!" groaned Shep.

"Boat gone, cooking utensils gone, supplies gone---everything
gone but our firearms! Who could have done it?"

"Maybe the Felps crowd," suggested Whopper.

"Or Ham Spink's gang," added Giant. "Or the ghost."

"I don't believe the ghost had anything to do with this," said Snap.
"I think it was either the Felps or the Spink crowd. It looks
just like some of their dirty work."

"Well, this thing was done within the last three hours," came
from the doctor's son. "The question is, what have they done
with the boat and our stuff? Of course, we must get them back."

"We ought to have somebody arrested for this," put in Whopper.

"Perhaps, Whopper, but we've got to catch them first," answered
the leader of the club.

All looked eagerly up and down the lake, and across to the other
shore. Shep imagined he saw a boat pulled up in the bushes on the
other side, but was by no means sure.

"If we can't get our things back we'll have to go home," said Giant,
soberly.

"I am not going home!" cried Snap. "We've got our guns and some
ammunition, and the deer."

"I wonder if they touched the deer?" All rushed back to where
the big deer had been left, hung up in a cool spot in the forest.
Evidently the enemy had not seen this game, and it was untouched.
Looking around near the water front they found a small box of
salt, a spoon, and some scattered cartridges for the rifle. Evidently
the marauders had left in haste and dropped the things on the way.

"I am glad we have the salt," observed Snap. "Those thieves ought
to have the salt down their throats," muttered Whopper. "They are
altogether too fresh!"

The young hunters walked around the camp for half an hour and more.
They did not know what to do. They were hungry, but in no humor
for eating. They wanted to get on the track of their stolen
belongings, but did not know bow to strike out.

"Maybe some tramps came along and did this," suggested Snap, dropping
on the ground to rest. "Some of that class of fellows would think it
fine sport to clean us out."

"One thing is certain," said She