the others?" asked Giant, anxiously. "I want to do
better than I have."

"No use of going after 'em now," said the old hunter. "They will
run too far. Some day---listen!"

They listened, and from a distance heard two gun shots, followed
by several more.

"Somebody else is out," said Shep. "Wonder who it can be?"

He was destined to find out before he was many hours older.

CHAPTER XVII

THE RIVAL CAMPERS

It was no light matter to get the three deer down to the lake shore.
The old hunter showed the boys how to lash the game to long poles,
resting the poles on their shoulders as they walked along.

"I believe I'll take the buck to town," said Jed Sanborn. "I can
get a good price for him there."

"Will you take one of the deer home for us?" asked Snap, after
consulting with his fellow-members of the gun club.

"Sure I will, lad."

"We want the meat divided," came from Shep. "Give each family its
fair share." And so it was arranged, and the boys told Jed Sanborn
to tell their folks that all was going well and they were "having
the time of their lives."

After Jed Sanborn had departed the four boys set to work to cut up
the deer they had kept. They nailed the hide up so that it might
he preserved, and then cut a fine venison steak for supper.

"Now we've got a real camp!" cried Snap, enthusiastically. "Just
think of it! Deer meat!" And he fairly danced a jig for joy.

It was certainly a happy gathering, and the young hunters voted the
venison steak the best meat they had ever eaten.

"Well, I declare!" cried Whopper, presently, as he gazed across the
lake. "Am I mistaken, or is that a camp-fire I see."

"It certainly is a fire," answered Snap, leaping to his feet.

"Maybe it belongs to those persons we heard shooting, after we shot
the deer," suggested Shep.

The boys were curious to know what sort of folks could be in that
vicinity, and after it was talked over, Snap and Whopper entered
the rowboat and moved over the lake in the direction of the strange
light.

"I see three persons moving around," announced Snap, as they drew
closer. "Let us remain on the lake until we make sure what sort
of people they are."

They drew closer with caution and at last made out five young men,
among them Ham Spink, the Fairview dude, who was, as usual, smoking
a cigarette.

"It's the whole Ham Spink crowd," muttered Snap---"Ham and Dick
Bush, Carl Dudder, Sid Foley and Sam Anderson. I didn