ff without further delay.

The camp gained, all of the boats were hauled up into the bushes
out of sight and the outfit was taken back to the cabin. This
had just been accomplished when Giant, who was on guard, announced
that the raft was coming ashore not a great distance away.

"Might as well warn them off," said Snap. "Everybody take his gun,
and we'll take torches, too."

This plan was speedily carried out, and just as Ham Spink started
to leap to the shore he found himself confronted by the four boy
hunters, each with a torch in one hand and his gun held out in the
other.

"Stop, Ham Spink!" cried Snap. "Don't you dare to step a foot
further!"

"Discovered!" muttered Carl Dudder, in disgust. "I told you to be
careful."

"I want to talk to you," murmured Ham, not knowing what else to say."

"To-morrow morning, at ten o'clock, at your camp," answered Snap
promptly. "That was the bargain."

"But see here-----"

"We won't waste words, Ham. It's ten o'clock to-morrow and nothing
else."

"We want our boat and our canoe, and we want them now," cried Ike Akley.

"It is not for you to dictate, Ike Akley," said Shep. "We want you
to leave and be quick about it. We don't intend to stay up all
night fooling with you."

"Let us have our boat and the canoe and we'll promise not to molest
you again," said Ham, quite humbly.

"To-morrow, at ten o'clock," said Snap, as firmly as ever. "And
let me tell you another thing. If you don't leave us alone now
perhaps you'll not get the boat and the canoe at all."

The Spink crowd wanted to argue, but our friends would not listen.
One of the boys wanted to fight, but the sight of the guns made
him hold back. At last those on the raft put off from the shore
and disappeared in the darkness.

"They are as mad as wet hens," said Giant. "Do you think they'll
come back?"

"Possibly," answered Snap. "We'll have to keep a strict watch."

It was decided that only two boys should sleep at a time, while
the other pair remained on guard, one at either side of the camp.
This plan was carried out, but nothing came to disturb the young
hunters, and all managed to get a fairly good rest after their
arduous doing of the early part of the night.

At half-past nine in the morning they started for the other side
of Lake Narsac in their rowboat, taking the two other craft with
them. They looked for Ham Spink and his cronies but the camping
spot was deserted.

"What can