me, he has acted so
queerly that I don't want to give him any chance to get away from me.
Besides, I think he ought to rest so that his lame ankle can get well.
I'll do all the work around here and stay until some of you get back,
which I suppose will be in a day or two."

"All right, Phil. You stay with him, by all means," answered our hero.
"We'll attend to this message, and we'll wait to see if any message
comes back from your father."

The boys to return to Bear Camp had thought they must go by the way they
had come, but Lester Lawrence told them to follow the mountain torrent
for a distance of a quarter of a mile, and then they would reach a broad
and well-defined trail leading to the brook which flowed into Mirror
Lake.

"It's a much shorter route," he said, "and you will find the traveling
much easier."

It was about half an hour later when Dave and the others bid Phil and
Mr. Lawrence good-bye, and set out on the return to Bear Camp. Our hero
still had possession of the rifle, and Roger carried the shotgun. Under
the heavy trees it was both dark and cold, and the boys hurried along as
rapidly as possible, not only to make time, but also to keep warm. Dave
and Roger were in advance, discussing the finding of Phil's uncle.

"I'm mighty glad on Phil's account that his uncle has been found,"
remarked Dave. "The selling of that land at a handsome profit will be a
big lift for the Lawrence family."

"Yes. And how it will please Phil's parents to have Mr. Lawrence's
brother back!" responded Roger. "As it was, they did not know whether he
was dead or alive. It's a terrible thing to----"

Roger broke off short, for at that instant Dave clapped his hand over
his chum's mouth and drew him quickly behind a nearby tree. They were
well in advance of their friends, and now our hero motioned the others
to keep back.

"What is it? What is the trouble?" called out Ben.

"It's a deer, keep quiet!" answered Dave, in a low tone.

"A deer! Where?" questioned Roger.

"Over yonder, by the white birch."

The senator's son looked in the direction indicated, but for the moment
saw nothing out of the ordinary. Then, however, a head appeared from
between some bushes back of the white birch, and presently a beautiful
deer stalked into view.

"I see him," whispered Roger, excitedly. "There is your chance, Dave,
plug him!"

Our hero already had the rifle raised. He was about to pull the trigger
when he paused, for he had see