hose splendid things they had
brought along with them being mysteriously carried off by unknown
vandals.

"Toby, just you keep that shotgun handy, and defend our grub with the
last drop of blood in your veins," he went on to say. "Now, I'll step
out and see if Moses has finished the oats I gave him before we had our
breakfast. While about it I'll lead him over for a drink at Turtle Creek
below the spot where we get our supply of clear water."

"Thanks for your trouble, Steve; you'll save me doing it later," spoke
up Toby, graciously. "When you fellows are off I'll wrestle with the
dishes and cooking outfit. After that I've got several things I want to
fix about my fishing tackle--some snells to tie fresh after heating them
in boiling water; and hooks that need filing about the points, as they
seem a bit dull. Then there's a guide on my pole--I mean my rod, that
needs winding with red silk thread. Oh! I'll find plenty to keep me busy
I reckon."

Ten minutes afterward Steve came hurrying back with a look of concern on
his face that caused both Jack and Toby to jump to the conclusion that
he had made some sort of important discovery.

"It isn't Moses that's broken away and given us the slip, I hope?"
gasped Toby, and then adding: "no, because I see him over there where we
tied him out so he could eat his fill of green grass. What's happened,
Steve; you look like you've met up with a ghost?"

"We had a visitor last night, just as sure as anything, boys," said
Steve, solemnly; "and we can thank our lucky stars he didn't run off
with our stuff in the bargain!"

CHAPTER VII

PROSPECTING FOR PICTURES

"How do you know that, Steve?" asked the startled Toby.

"Guess I can read tracks when I see them!" snapped the other.

"Then you've come across some sort of trail, I reckon?" ventured Jack.

"Just what I have," came the quick reply, "and here's the way I happened
to hit on it. Tell me, do either of you chance to own this pocket
handkerchief?" and as he spoke Steve flipped the article in question
from its hiding place, and held it up before his comrades.

Both gave a hasty look, and shook their heads in the negative.

"Never saw it before," Toby went on record as saying; "and it's an
unusually fine piece of material, I should say, just such as a gentleman
who cared a heap for his personal appearance and clothes would be likely
to carry."

"Well, you picked that up first of all, and it excited your suspicio