wanted to write up his notes from
which, on their return, he was going to construct a big "story" for
his paper.

The two chums struck out across the island. They met with fairly good
luck. Jack brought down some rabbits and a partridge. Tom got three
partridges and some squirrels. Game appeared to be plentiful on the
island and Jack had a theory that at one time it must have been
connected with the mainland.

At last their walking brought them out on the upper end of the island
facing the smaller spot of land above. As they emerged from the trees,
both boys got a big surprise.

Two boats had just been beached there!

"What in the world!" stammered out Jack.

"Who can----" began Tom, when the question was answered. The boys saw
three figures coming down to the beach. They, seemingly, had been
looking for a camp site.

"It's that fellow, Bill Masterson," explained Jack.

"So it is, and those other two are his cronies. The sneaks, they've
followed us here!" cried Tom indignantly.

"Let's watch from behind these bushes and see what they do," said
Jack.

They watched from a place of concealment while the three youths on the
island above unloaded the second boat which they had towed down the
river, carrying their camping equipment and provisions in it. They set
up their tents quite boldly in full view of the other island and then
proceeded to build a fire.

"How on earth did they get down the river without having a spill?"
cried Jack.

"How did they know where Rattlesnake Island was?" wondered Tom,
neither of the boys, of course, knowing of the opened letters.

"They seem prepared to make a long stay," commented Tom, after a
minute, "but it's a wonder they weren't wrecked."

"I don't know," said Jack. "Zeb says the river is much higher now
than he has ever seen it. That means that the rapids are not so
dangerous as at low water. But they were taking quite a chance, at
that."

The boys watched for a while longer and then returned to camp with
their game and their news.

"If they try to land on this island, we'll soon chase 'em off,"
declared Dick vehemently.

"Then they'd have a case at law agin us," said Zeb.

"How do you mean?" asked Jack.

"Wa'al, we ain't filed no claim yet and in the eyes of the law them
deposits down there in the black barren is as much theirs as ours."

That evening Zeb occupied himself with making several signs of
intention to file claim which he intended to post all round