. _Page 253._]

"How are we going to get those down to the bungalows?" asked the
senator's son.

"I think the best thing to do will be to tie their feet together and
slip each of them on a long pole," returned Dave.

A small hatchet had been brought along for possible use in cutting
firewood, and with this the boys cut down two long and slender saplings.
Then they tied up the deer as our hero had mentioned, and a sapling was
thrust between the front and hind legs of each of the game, allowing the
body to hang below.

"Here, Ben, you can carry the rifle," announced Dave. "I'll take one end
of one load."

"And I'll help carry with you," announced Luke.

"I'll carry my share of the load," offered Roger, and he picked up one
end of the second sapling, while Shadow took the other. Thus carrying
the loads between them, and with Ben going ahead with the rifle, they
continued on the return to Bear Camp.

Progress with such heavy loads was necessarily slow, and several times
the boys stopped to rest. It was well toward nightfall when they reached
the stream flowing into Mirror Lake.

Having gained the watercourse, it was an easy matter for them to
continue onward until they reached the vicinity of the two bungalows. As
soon as they came in sight of the camp, several set up a shout, which
quickly brought Laura and Belle into view.

"Home again, and with lots of good news!" cried Dave, swinging his cap.

"Oh, look, they have two deer!" exclaimed the girl from the West. "Isn't
that grand?"

"It certainly is," returned Laura; but her voice had little of
enthusiasm in it.

"Where is Uncle Dunston?" cried Dave. "I want him to look at what Roger
and I shot."

"Your uncle has gone home," answered Belle. At the same time Laura
turned away.

"Gone home!" repeated Dave, in bewilderment. "Why, what made him do
that? I didn't know he was going until next week."

"He went with Mr. Wadsworth," continued Belle. "They had some very
important business to attend to."

"What was it? Laura, do you know?"

"Yes, I know, Dave," answered the girl, and now her voice had a curious,
uncertain ring in it. "Oh, Dave, it's the most awful thing I ever heard
of! I don't see how I am ever going to tell you!" she burst out; and
then, of a sudden, began to cry and ran into the bungalow.

CHAPTER XXVI

STARTLING NEWS

Dave was so surprised that for the moment he knew not what to say or do.
His eyes followed Laura as she disappea