Again the bushes moved. Undoubtedly there was some person or animal
advancing in the direction of the twin tents, with the intention of
securing a coveted article of food.
Frank never moved, only watched, and presently he chuckled softly to
himself, for he had caught a glimpse of two yellow, glowing balls of
light that shone in the semi-darkness under the trees like globes of
phosphorus.
"Our first wildcat, come to see what sort of fellows have invaded its
territory. Well, I believe in giving all strangers a warm reception, and
here's to you, old chap."
As he thought thus he gently began to elevate his gun. The invader
meanwhile had continued to advance until its whole crouching figure was
plainly outlined.
[Illustration: HE DODGED JUST IN TIME TO ESCAPE THE FURIOUS LEAP OF A
WILDCAT.]
The crash of the gun brought the other three out of the tents in a mad
scramble, under the impression that either the wild man or the two
hoboes had invaded the camp.
"Where are they? Let me get a crack at the scamps!" shouted Jerry.
There was an angry snarl, and he dodged just in time to escape the
furious leap of a wildcat that had been crouching on some part of the
lower bluff, entirely unseen by the sentinel.
Jerry was as quick as lightning with his gun. He whirled around and let
go almost before any of the others had discovered what object it was he
had dodged.
"Talk to me about that, will you," exclaimed the marksman, as the
riddled "varmint" tried to leap again, and fell back to breathe its
last; "where was Frank all the while--what did he fire at, tell me?"
"This," remarked the other, quietly, stepping forward and picking up a
monster of a bobcat that had lain, unnoticed by Jerry, amid the leaves
still covering the ground from the previous Fall.
"Two of the critters! What do you know about that--a pair the very first
night! Well, I reckon this old island was well named, after all. No
wonder the boys never wanted to land here, even in the daytime. But I'd
rather it was cats than wild men, or thieving hoboes."
After a search had failed to reveal any more of the "pestiferous cats,"
as Jerry delighted in calling them, the three boys crawled back under
their blankets again, for the night air felt chilly, after being
snuggled down so warmly.
No more alarms came that night, and later on the sky cleared, allowing
the moon full sway.
As daylight advanced long before Jerry's watch was over, it became a
part of his duty to resuscitate the fire, and begin to get ready for
breakfast.
They had laid out numerous things to be done on this day. First of all
it was decided that two of them must hunt in company; and even those
left in camp were not to separate more than they could help. Of course
it might be necessary for one of the stay-at-homes to launch a canoe and
try the fishing, if they expected to extend the variety of food in the
larder; but there must be no solitary wandering about the strange
island.
Frank and Jerry were chosen to make an exploration that day. They could
start in and easily go around the island, exploring every part of it,
and learning considerable about its secrets.
If the tramps were really hiding here, possibly some evidence of their
presence would be found, the embers of a fire it might be.
Frank was somewhat provoked about the happening of the preceding night,
and even thought it might be advisable to move the camp away from that
bluff. The others convinced him, however, that they were just as safe
there as in any other locality, and so he did not persist in this idea.
He did climb to the top of the bluff to examine the ground. Here Jerry
joined him after a little.
"Any signs?" asked the latter, swinging over to where Frank knelt.
"Plenty. Here they crouched and watched us."
"Then there were more than one?" asked Jerry, eagerly.
"You can see the marks of two separate pair of shoes; and one of them
small enough to belong to your Waddy Walsh. I think you said he was a
squatty chap, and used to boast of his delicate hands and feet,"
continued Frank, pointing.
"You're right. And that settles one thing. The hoboes stole our kettle,
and not any wild man. I reckon they're a little afraid of us, seeing
we're armed, and they may not be. Wonder what they thought we were
shooting in the night?"
"All I hope is they'll give us a wide berth after this. If they keep on
trying to make us feed them, it's going to spoil our outing some, I
fear," remarked Frank, as he started to descend the bluff again.
After a serious consultation the party separated.
Frank and Jerry started off along the shore, heading to the west.
"If all goes well look for us some time before sunset. We've got a lunch
along and want to do the job up brown while we're at it, you know," said
Frank, as he turned to wave his two comrades farewell.
"Good luck!" called Bluff, who was washing the dishes.
Snap!
"I've got you as you appear starting off on the great exploring
expedition, fellows. If by any evil chance you never show up again, that
picture will be cherished by your relatives," called Will.
"Talk to me about your croakers, will you? That's a pleasant send-off,
now," said Jerry, as he fell in beside his chum, and lost sight of the
cheery camp.
They found the going rather rough at times, and what with climbing over
obstacles and cutting a passage through creepers that trailed down from
the trees at such times as they pushed in from the shore, progress was
rather slow.
At noon they had not gone more than a third of the way around the
island.
"Here's a good place to rest. I move we sit down, eat our grub, and take
a few winks. I didn't get much sleep last night, and feel dopy,"
remarked Jerry.
Truth to tell, Frank was not unwilling to comply. He was sleepy himself,
and the April sun seemed unusually warm at this time of day.
"Just as you say. That snack of crackers and cheese and cold tongue
would strike me about right. Down it is, then," he replied, dropping on
the green grass.
They drank from the lake when thirsty, for the water was pure and cold.
After finishing their frugal meal the two lay back to rest. Frank
watched the clouds passing over for a time, but finally his eyes closed
and he slept.
"Here, get up!" he heard some one say close to his ear.
Jerry was yawning and stretching. The sun seemed to be pretty well down
the first half of the western heavens.
"How long have we been asleep here?" demanded Jerry, curiously.
"I'm ashamed to say several hours. It's now three," laughed his comrade.
"Then we'd better be on the jump if we expect to get around the blessed
old island to-day. I won't hear of going back after starting out with
such a grand hurrah."
Frank was quite of the same opinion. Accordingly the two pedestrians
began to move along their way, following the shore line save in certain
places where something out of the usual run attracted their attention.
All the while they were on the keen watch for any signs that would
indicate the presence of human beings on the island.
Being able to keep track of their progress by watching the shore of the
mainland, they knew when they had reached a point half way around.
"Now we're on the home stretch," announced Jerry, as he looked over the
lake in the direction of its southern terminus, not more than a quarter
of a mile off.
"But the worst is yet to come," laughed Frank, simply to hear Jerry
groan, and not because he really believed it to be the case.
A short time later they were tempted to enter the depths of the timber
again to investigate some curious formation that Frank believed might be
an Indian mound.
"I'd like to dig into it some time, and satisfy my curiosity," he
declared.
"It makes a bully support for a fellow's tired back, I know," said
Jerry, as he spread himself upon the ground.
"Well, take a little rest, then, while I examine that other rise over
there. It looks larger than this one, and if my suspicions prove true
there ought to be a jolly lot of relics dug out of these mounds."
"All right, Frank, I'm agreeable. Don't forget me, and go back to camp
alone, you know," said Jerry, laughing, as he stretched himself out.
"I declare if the fellow isn't thinking of taking another nap. Well, we
may see fit to keep you on duty the whole of to-night, so prepare
yourself."
With which warning Frank walked away. He arrived at the larger mound,
and was so deeply interested in examining the same that the minutes
crept along unheeded. He heard the cries of hawks quarreling in some
nearby tree; then again sounds as of small animals snarling came from
the brush beyond; but Frank paid little heed to any of these things.
Finally he aroused himself.
"Come, this won't do. I must get back to Jerry, and we'll have to do
some hustling to reach the camp by dusk," he exclaimed.
When he arrived at the other mound he was surprised not to find his chum
lying there sleeping. Jerry had vanished in a most incomprehensible
manner!
At first, Frank thought the other might be trying to play one of his
practical jokes upon him. He called, but there came back no answer.
Then he dropped down to examine the ground, having been tutored by the
Penobscot Indians of the northern woods; and, finding tracks, he knew
that the worst had happened. Jerry had undoubtedly fallen into the hands
of their foes!