ing within a mile or so of the lake,"
Jerry suggested. "I'm saying that partly because I've noticed how
Frank has swung around, and is heading in the direction he pointed out
when he told of our camp lying in that quarter."

"You hit the nail on the head when you say that, Jerry," commented
Frank; "for we're going to strike the old trail before another ten
minutes passes."

"Meaning the one that leads to the lake from Aaron's place, eh,
Frank?" continued Jerry, with a sparkle of expectancy in his eyes.

"That's right, Jerry," he was told quietly.

"Then I hope--" began the other, stopping suddenly, with half-opened
mouth, to listen, for just then there came to their ears a
half-muffled sound that might be the scream of a red-headed woodpecker
up on some rotten treetop, or anything else for that matter.

Will and Bluff uttered exclamations indicating that they recognized
the cry. Even Frank looked serious, while Jerry was plainly excited.

"Frank!" he exclaimed, "was that the queer cry you fellows told me you
heard those two times you were up here?"

"I think it was," replied the other; "but please don't go to getting
excited over it, Jerry. You know we agreed it was none of our business
whether a peacock on the lawn or a dog in his kennel let out that
yawp. The only thing that interests me about it is the fact that we
have proof that the high board fence around Mr. Dennison's place ought
to loom up any minute now."

Hardly had Frank said this than Bluff broke in with his customary
abruptness.

"Right now I can see a little patch of the same fence over yonder,
Frank. Notice that big beech, and look under the slanting limbs. How
about it, am I right?"

He was immediately assured that his eyes had not deceived him, for it
was certainly a small section of the tall fence that he had
discovered.

"I hope you will go close enough anyway," ventured Jerry, "so I can
see that strand of cruel barbed wire you say runs along the top of the
fence."

"Oh! there's no reason you should be cheated out of that little
favor," he was told by the leader. "The fact is we have to pass close
to the fence in order to strike that trail through the woods."

"The one he took when he struck my trap, and set my flashlight off,
eh, Frank?" asked Will.

"Of course it was that trail and no other," said Frank; "you remember
we followed it before, and came to the Point. We also agreed that it
was used by the old gentleman once in a whil