CHAPTER XXVI

SUCCESS

The man was sitting in front of a small fire, over which he had
evidently been cooking, for the frying-pan was close at hand, and the
odor of bacon could be distinguished in the air.

Most likely he had just finished his morning meal, and was now solacing
himself with a pipe.

The stolen gun had been leaned against a tree close by the hut, and
about a half a dozen yards from its new possessor, but on the opposite
side from where the boys were crouching.

"What are you goin' to do?" Jim whispered.

"We've got to get hold of him somehow, and by that means prevent Bob
and Sam from knowing what we are about."

Jim nodded to show that he agreed fully in this assertion.

"I don't s'pose you'd dare to shoot him."

"Of course not; that would be murder."

"Then how is it to be fixed?"

Jet studied the situation for several minutes, and whispered:

"We must manage to creep around on the other side, and get hold of the
gun first. Then I'll cover him with my revolver, and you must do the
same with the other weapon. When he sees that both of us have got the
drop on him, I reckon there won't be much trouble in keeping him quiet."

Jim did not stop to argue the matter.

According to his opinion the sooner the job was finished, the better,
and he started off at right angles with the camp, Jet following him.

The boys moved so slowly and cautiously that not so much as a leaf was
disturbed, and the man by the fire heard nothing to arouse his
suspicions.

Jim made a needlessly long detour.

Many times before it was ended Jet felt convinced that the guide had
made a mistake, and once he stopped the boy to say so; but the latter
replied, in the tone of a fellow who knows perfectly well where he is:

"We're all right. The camp is just over there, and I want to come in
sight of the lake once more before turning toward it."

Twenty minutes later Jim pointed ahead with a gesture of triumph.

Jet could see dimly through the foliage the outlines of the hut; but
the trees hid the man from view.

Now the progress was even more slow and cautious. It seemed at times
as if Jim hardly moved, so afraid was he of making a noise; but the
advance was certain, and finally he stopped, motioning for Jet to come
beside him.

The two were hardly more than a dozen feet from the weapon, and about
the same distance farther away was the man they hoped to make prisoner.

His pipe had gone out, his head was sun