Thad," he observed. "That paddle has been in
the water not a great many hours ago, for it's still wet. Yes, and
inside the boat I can see signs that point to the same thing."

"Last night, perhaps, while we were sleeping here, this boat was being
used on the lake by some person or persons," Thad continued, earnestly;
while the balance of the scouts disputed among themselves as to who
should be given the privilege of accompanying Bob White and Thad on the
trip to the island.

Thad looked a little serious.

"Kind of queer, any way you take it," he remarked. "Our camp-fire could
have been seen easy enough by any fellow who was landing here, and
hiding his boat. Then tell me why he didn't come into camp, and see who
we were? Seems to me any honest man would have been glad to do that same
thing."

"Say, perhaps he doesn't happen to be honest, Thad?" suggested Allan, in
rather a hushed voice; for there was something a little mysterious about
the finding of this boat that excited his curiosity more or less, and
caused strange ideas to form in his boyish mind.

"Oh! I hardly think it could be as bad as that," Thad hastened to
remark. "Just because he avoided our camp doesn't mean that he's a
thief, or a rascal, I take it. Perhaps he saw we were Boy Scouts; and
most men wouldn't want to bother knowing a parcel of boys in their first
camp."

"But what could he be doing, away up here in this lonely place?" asked
the other.

"Well, of course I don't pretend to know," replied the scout-master;
"but then I might give a guess. Suppose one of the men who used to be
hired to guard these preserves of that rich gentleman who meant to make
a game park here, after the idea was given up, took a notion to come
back up here for some reason. He might be getting ready to trap animals
in the fall; or shoot deer out of season. Then again, perhaps this same
lake was stocked with game fish some years ago, and a couple of smart
fishermen might take out a heap of bass that would net them a lot of
money in the market. Sometimes they use nets too, Allan, when the game
wardens are far away."

"I know," replied the other. "It's just the same up in my country, I'm
sorry to say. But are you going over to take a look at that island just
the same, Thad?"

"Sure thing; and as the boat is large enough, to hold three or four
without crowding, perhaps I'd better pick another to go along. Step-hen,
how would you like to help Bob White, Bumpus and myse