Two more days the boys spent among the streams and the trout pools. At
the end of that time their supply of food was running low and they
decided to return to their island camp.
The return trip was made without any mishap and when they entered the
little lake where their island was situated, their tent, standing out
prominently on the little bluff where it was pitched, was a welcome
sight to all.
"It looks pretty good, doesn't it?" exclaimed John proudly.
"It certainly does," agreed Fred. "I'm sort of glad to be back again."
"We had a great time though," said George enthusiastically. "There's one
more trip I want to take this summer too."
"What's that?" inquired Fred.
"I'd like to climb that mountain over there."
The four young campers turned their heads and gazed at the peak George
indicated, towering high over the lake.
"That's a go," exclaimed Grant readily. "I think that it would be good
fun."
"So do I," agreed John. "Let's do it soon too."
"Do you suppose it will be very hard work?" asked Fred.
"Of course it will," said George. "You wouldn't let that hold you back
though, would you?"
"Not at all, but I don't want you fellows to get the idea that it will
be any easy job. The mountain looks nice and green and smooth from here
because it's all covered with trees, but when we get there we'll find
it's pretty rough going. Ravines and gullies and steep cliffs and
everything else like that will be there to hold us back."
"All the better," exclaimed George. "Then when we reach the top we'll
feel as if we had accomplished something."
"We'll do it anyway," said Grant and every one else agreed with him.
Soon they reached their destination. The Balsam still rode at anchor in
the little harbor and everything seemed to be as the boys had left it.
In a few moments the canoes had been drawn up on shore and their
contents unloaded. Grant in the lead, they made their way towards the
tent.
He disappeared inside the tent and before his companions had come up
with him, reappeared holding a paper in his hand.
"What have you got there?" inquired George curiously.
"I don't know. I found it inside the tent."
"See what it is," exclaimed George.
"It's a challenge of some kind, I think," said Grant after a hasty
glance at the sheet which he held.
"A challenge?" exclaimed John. "Not for a fight, I hope."
"Not as bad as that," laughed Grant. "It's an athletic challenge."
"Who from?" demanded Fred.
"I don't know yet," said Grant. "Give me a chance."
"Read it out loud," urged John. "That's the best way."
"We, the undersigned," read Grant, "hereby challenge the four
boys who are camping on the island in the middle of the lake to
a set of water sports. The events are to be decided upon by
mutual agreement and are to be as many in number as may be
agreed upon. We suggest that they include a sailing race, a
canoe race, and a swimming race. The day for the sports is to be
decided later and on Monday morning we will come over to see you
and arrange the details.
Signed, Thomas Adams.
Franklin Dunbar.
Hugh McNeale.
Herbert Halsey."
"Who are they, do you suppose?" exclaimed John.
"I don't know," said Fred. "I never heard of any of them before."
"They probably live in that camp down at the other end of the lake,"
said Grant. "The one we visited the other day, you know."
"And found nobody there," added George.
"That's it. They must be the ones."
"I guess they are," agreed John. "How do they know so much about us
though? I don't see how they knew there were four of us."
"Probably they've seen us around," suggested Grant. "That part of it is
easy enough."
"Well, what do you think of the challenge?" demanded Fred.
"I say we accept it," exclaimed George eagerly.
"Of course we will," said Grant. "I think it will be great sport."
"They may be a good deal older and bigger than we are," suggested Fred.
"If they are we'll sort of be outclassed."
"I don't believe they are," said Grant. "At any rate I don't think we'll
be outclassed."
"We'll give them a good rub anyway," exclaimed George. "What sort of
sailing and swimming and canoe races do you suppose they mean?"
"They had a catboat like the Balsam," said John. "Don't you remember
seeing it down by their tent? We'll use the catboats for the sailing
race."
"A relay swimming race would be a good stunt," suggested Fred. "In that
way we could all be in it."
"When they come over here we can decide all the details," said George.
"When was it that they said they were coming?"
"Monday, I think," said John. "Wasn't it, Grant?"
"Yes. That's day after to-morrow."
"We ought to have some judges," said Fred.
"That's true," agreed Grant. "I don't know where we'll get any though."
"Maybe they'll know somebody," suggested George.
"We'll find out all about it on Monday anyway," said Fred. "Let's have a
little food now. I'll faint unless I eat pretty soon."
"Poor little Freddy," laughed George. "You need a nurse."
"Huh," snorted Fred. "Ever since you hooked that trout by the tail you
have been too fresh to live. Your turn will come though."
"What do you mean by that?" demanded George.
"Why, that the freshness will be taken out of you one of these days."
"Who'll do it?"
"I don't know, but I have a sure feeling that something will happen to
you unless you mend your ways."
"Stop your arguing, you two," exclaimed Grant. "You fight all day long."
"We're not fighting," laughed Fred. "That's just the way we show how
fond we are of each other."
"Well, I must say you have a queer way of doing it," said Grant. "I'd
hate to see what you'd do if you didn't like each other."
"Such a thing could never happen, could it, Fred?" demanded George.
"No, I guess not. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have some one
like you around to make fun of," responded Fred.
"Who caught the big trout?" taunted George.
"Will you keep quiet about that fish?" exclaimed Fred. "All you do is
talk about it from morning till night. I never want to hear of it
again."
"You will though," grinned George.
"Oh, I know that, but I wish something would happen to keep you quiet."
Such a thing was destined to come about before Fred dreamed it would and
it was also something he never would have thought of, possibly.
"I need some wood for this fire," remarked Grant, who was busied with
preparations for dinner. The sun was fast sinking in the west and the
light was commencing to fade. A lone kingfisher winged his way across
the lake returning to his home, a hole dug in some bank overlooking the
water. All was quiet and peaceful.
"I need some wood for this fire," Grant repeated, for no one had paid
any attention to his former statement of this fact.
"You hear that, Pop?" inquired Fred. "Grant needs some wood."
"Yes, I heard him," replied George. "What's the matter with you; your
legs haven't turned to stone, have they? Can't you get it?"
"I can, but I have to wash the dishes to-night. It seems to me that
that's just about enough for me to do."
"All right," sighed George, "I'll get it. It strikes me, though, that I
do about all the work around here that there is to be done."
"Yes, it's too bad about you," jeered Fred. "Take the ax and get out of
here."
"It's pretty dark," said George as ax in hand he started for the clump
of trees in the rear of the tent. It was growing dark as George had said
and it was becoming more and more difficult to pick out the narrow
trail. He had advanced but a short distance when a little animal ran out
into the path and trotted along ahead of him.
"Why, look at the cat," exclaimed George half out loud. "I wonder how it
got on the island here."
As he spoke the little black and white animal left the path and entered
a clump of bushes on one side. George had always been extremely fond of
pets of all sort and he followed eagerly.
"Here puss, puss, puss," he called. "Here kitty, kitty, kitty."
There was no response and he called again. He used his most enticing
manner and did his best to coax the little animal out again.
"Wouldn't they be surprised back at camp," he thought, "if I should
bring in a cat? It would make a fine mascot for us too."
He bent over the bushes where the cat had disappeared and called again;
no response came, however. He bent the twigs aside and stepped in,
looking carefully all about him as he went forward. Suddenly he uttered
a cry of surprise and started back. He thought he was choking, and
springing back into the narrow pathway he turned and ran for the tent as
fast as his legs would carry him.