rse he does."

"Then he'll be certain to shoot."

"This case is different from the other. There I had no right to fire;
but here I should take the chances rather than let him kill me."

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE STRUGGLE

Jet was talking altogether too boldly to please the small guide, and he
began to repent ever having consented to take part in such work.

"It won't do to call on our friend for some time, so let's go back to
the thicket and make ready," Jet said, as he arose to his feet, and Jim
followed like one who feels positive he is going to his doom.

Once inside the shelter of the trees, the amateur detective set about
preparing for the work on hand.

He examined the revolver carefully, greased the lock with a bit of
bacon rind, and assured himself that every part worked freely and
correctly.

Then he loaded the gun with ball cartridge, and put half a dozen in his
pocket. The bacon rind was also used with good effect, and, Jet said,
as he slipped a couple of crackers in his coat:

"Now come on, Jim. We may as well sit there as here, and we shall know
if he leaves the place."

"He can't unless he swims, for the other fellow has got the boat."

"I forgot that; but anyhow it won't do any harm to be ready. We'll
carry the boat down to the bushes on the bank, and that will take some
time."

The small guide obeyed.

The craft was taken as near the water as possible without exposing her
to view in case Bob should look that way, and then the boys settled
down for the last rest before the struggle.

"How long are we to wait here?" Jim asked.

"A couple of hours. He will have all his chores done up by that time,
and there's more chance of finding him lying down."

"Why wouldn't it be as well to row around boldly, and make believe
we've jest come for a visit? Then when he wasn't looking you could
clap your revolver to his head."

"I'm afraid that wouldn't work. In the first place, he'd be pretty
certain to recognise me in the daylight--you know my face was
half-hidden in the shadow of the shanty when he called at the other
camp. Then again I question if any visitors could catch him unawares
after first showing themselves. He has reason to know there are a good
many hunting for him, and is too old a bird to take chances."

Jim sighed. Almost any plan seemed to him preferable to trying to
steal upon a fellow, who would be likely to shoot at the first alarm,
and he had little faith in the ul