have been heard. The night was very
still, except for an occasional noise in the forest that made the boys
start.

They were confronted now by two equally unpleasant alternatives--either
to remain where they were until morning, or to make a detour around the
hill, and try to reach the creek on the lower side.

They chose the latter, and started up through the woods hand in hand.
They might have foreseen what would happen. The night was very dark, and
after floundering about through the bushes they became hopelessly lost,
and knew not which way to turn in search of the creek.

Clay was quite in despair, but Ned persuaded him to move on, and after
tramping for ten or fifteen minutes without the least idea which way
they were headed, they reached a fence that separated the woods from an
open field. As they mounted the top bar and perched themselves there for
a short rest, Ned uttered a cry of delight, and pointed out a flickering
yellow gleam far across the field.

"Hurrah! that must be the camp," exclaimed Clay, springing impetuously
from the fence. "Come on; let's run for it. I don't feel a bit tired
now."

"Not too fast," cried Ned warningly. "You're jumping at a rash
conclusion now, Clay. That light is in the window of some farmhouse. It
stands to reason that it can't be at our camp."

Clay stopped and retraced his steps.

"I was dead sure it was the campfire," he said dismally. "I thought our
troubles were over."

"Perhaps they are," replied Ned slowly. "We'll go up to that farmhouse
and find out exactly how the land lies. If the camp is not far off,
we'll borrow a lantern and push on--otherwise we'll ask for a place to
sleep until morning."

This arrangement was thoroughly satisfactory to Clay, and the boys
started briskly across the field. They found an orchard at the farther
end, and after passing through this and rounding the corner of the barn,
they saw the house in front of them.

It stood in a good sized yard inclosed by a picket fence. The light was
in one of the upper front rooms, where some late retiring member of the
family was no doubt preparing for bed.

"It won't do to make any racket," said Ned, "because there may be a dog
around. We'll go quietly in and rap on the door."

The boys softly opened the gate and entered the yard. In spite of the
utmost caution their feet made a crunching noise on the gravel path, and
the consequence was that before they were half way to the house a dog
bega