body from the Felps camp," put in Giant, who had come up.

"That is possible," said Snap.

"Let us see just what is missing," said Shep.

They made a careful examination of all the things in the camp. One
lad had lost some underwear, another a pair of socks and a
handkerchief and another a blanket. Some provisions were gone, also
a knife and fork, a cup, a frying-pan and half a dozen other things.

"Whoever was here evidently fitted himself to camp out," observed
Shep. "I wish we could catch him! I'd give him a piece of my mind."

"So would I," added Whopper.

All were too tired, however, to hunt for the interloper and all they
did that evening was to get supper and take it easy. When they turned
in it was raining, but by midnight the stars came out one by one.

"After this I shall hate to leave the camp all alone for fear somebody
will run off with our things," remarked Snap, while at breakfast.

"Just the way I feel about it," answered Shep. "Yet we can't watch
the things all the time."

For several days they remained close to the camp and then received
a second visit from Jed Sanborn.

He reported that everything was going on well at Fairview, and
listened to what they had to tell with much interest.

"Yes, you must get those deer by all means," he said. "But about
the feller that come here and took your things. He must have been
a mean critter an' no mistake!"

Jed Sanborn was quite willing to go out with them after the deer, and
the start was made on the following morning. They were soon across
Firefly Lake, and then the old hunter showed the boys an easy trail
over the hill and up the distant mountain.

"Gracious! This beats going through the bushes!" cried Giant.

"It's a pity we didn't know of this trail before," said Whopper. "It
might have saved us from going about 'steen miles out of our way."

"Well, you'll know it after this," said Jed Sanborn, with a quiet
smile. "Can't learn everything in a day, ye know. The woods is
like book larnin'---ye have got to learn a page at a time."

They walked along until nearly noon and then came to something of
a clearing. Here all took a sharp gaze around and at last saw two
deer far over to the eastward.

"We can walk straight for 'em," said the old hunter. "The wind
is blowing our way."

Once more they hurried on, this time with hopes beating high. Half
the distance was covered when Jed Sanborn halted the boys.

"Look to your guns, l