hough I mean to make another try along that line. When
this film dries, which may be around noon, I'll strike off a proof,
and then we can see what the old hermit looks like."

"One thing goes without saying," chuckled Bluff.

"What might that be?" Jerry asked him.

"Our night visitor didn't wait to find out what had blinded him on the
trail, but must have turned and made lickety-split for home."

"Can you blame him?" demanded Will, demurely. "Stop and think how
you'd feel if all of a sudden you got such a shock. Bluff, you said
you were awake at the time, and heard some sort of a sound, didn't
you?"

"Why yes, I'm dead certain I did; and now that we know it was a man
who got the scare I reckon he gave a little screech. I thought it was
a yelp from some wild animal at the time, but it could have been an
exclamation just as well."

They continued to talk about the incident for some little time, but
although several suggestions were advanced, in the end they were
really no closer to an explanation of the mystery than when they
started.

All they knew was that some man, probably Aaron Dennison himself, had
been walking along the old trail leading to the cabin from above when
his foot caused the concealed trap to be sprung.

He must have turned hastily and retreated after the flash. What he
thought the sudden dazzling illumination was caused by, the boys had
no means of knowing.

Jerry and Bluff were now getting ready to start on their mission in
search of supplies. They both expressed the hope that these could all
be procured, once they reached the distant village on the lake shore,
many miles off.

It promised to be an interesting trip, for they would pass along a
shore neither of them had ever examined at close range before. To
those who love outdoor life there is always a novelty about
exploration. With new and interesting scenes opening up constantly
before the eyes the senses are kept on the alert.

Bluff even had the temerity to suggest that Will loan them his camera
for the occasion.

"We might run across some dandy pictures that would be worth while
snapping off, you know, Will," he went on to say in a wheedling tone
of voice, which Bluff knew so well how to use.

Will, however, shook his head. Usually he was of a most accommodating
nature; and on numerous occasions had willingly entrusted his highly
valued camera into the keeping of the other boys, who knew how to use
it almost as well as did the