A MIX-UP IN CAMP
After the deer hunt the young hunters were content to take it easy
for several days, lolling around the camp, or going out fishing on
the lake or up the river beyond.
While fishing one day, Giant and Shep ran into several of the Spink
crowd and some unpleasant words passed. When the rival campers
separated, the feeling upon both sides was very bitter.
"I don't like those chaps at all," was Shep's comment. "I am sorry
they came to Firefly Lake."
"They make me sick," was the way Giant expressed himself. "And they
are such dudes, too, with their fancy hunting outfits and patent
fishing gear."
"And not one of them can shoot worth a cent," said Snap.
"How do you know that?"
"I saw them at the shooting-gallery one day. They couldn't make a
single bull's-eye, try their best, and lots of times they didn't even
hit the target."
On Friday, Shep came into camp from a walk up the lake and his face
showed his excitement.
"I saw some more deer!" he cried. "Come on, all of you! It's the
chance of our lives!"
This announcement filled the crowd with excitement, and soon they
were asking all sorts of questions of the doctor's son. He had
looked across the upper end of the lake and had seen seven or eight
deer making their way along one of the mountain trails.
"We'll take to the boat and go over," said Snap. "Hurry up and get
some provisions together. This may keep us out all day."
The boys set to work with a will, and in twenty minutes were ready
for the trip. They kicked out the camp-fire, shut up the cabin and
then leaped into the rowboat and took up the oars.
"I suppose the cabin is safe," said Snap, a little anxiously.
"Safe enough," answered Shep, whose mind was on the deer.
The young hunters rowed up the lake with all speed, and, landing,
tied their craft fast among the bushes.
"This will be an all-day chase, I guess," said Giant.
"Well, what of it?" returned Whopper. "Our time is our own. I hope
we get at least one deer."
The young hunters soon passed out of sight of the shore, and a
moment later another rowboat appeared, containing Ham Spink and his
particular crony, Dick Bush.
"Say, Ham, did you hear what they said?" asked Dick Bush, eagerly.
"I certainly did, Dick," drawled Spink.
"They expect to be gone all day."
"Exactly."
"This will give us the chance we have been looking for."
"By jove! that's so!"
"We can go over to their camp and do just as we please, and they will
never know who did it."
"Not unless they come back sooner than we expect."
"We can stop them from coming back in a hurry."
"I don't see how."
"Over yonder is their boat. We can tow that along. When they find
the boat gone they'll have to walk around the end of the lake, and
that will take a long time."
"So it will. Do you think it is safe to take the boat now?"
"We can wait a little while."
They waited, and at last, thinking the coast clear, pulled the other
craft from the bushes and tied it to the stern of their own boat.
Then they wound up their lines, for they had been fishing, and lost
no time in rowing to their camp, where they had left their cronies
lolling in the sun, smoking cigarettes and playing cards.
"Hullo! where did you pick up the boat?" asked one of the other
boys.
"It belongs to the Snap Dodge crowd," answered Ham Spink. "Boys, we
have got the chance of our lives to get square with that crowd now,"
he added.
Matters were speedily explained, and all of the dudish boys present
voted it would be just the thing to go over to the other camp and
"make a mix of it," as they expressed it.
No time was lost in getting away from their own camp, and it did not
take them long to get to the opposite shore of the lake. Here they
took the second rowboat and hid it under some overhanging bushes.
"We'll make it look as if it drifted here," said Ham Spink, and
this was done, a broken line dragging in the water over the bow.
Arriving at the other camp, the dudish boys proceeded to make
themselves at home. Feeling certain Snap's crowd would not return
for some time, they rekindled the fire and cut themselves some
meat and took whatever of the stores they wanted. Inside of an
hour a good dinner was ready and they sat down to this with gusto.
"Nothing like living on the fat of the land," observed Ham Spink.
"Must say, their coffee is all right."
"That's because you made it good and strong," said another of the
boys.
"Here's a fine can of condensed milk," said another, helping himself
liberally.
"I found some fine sardines," put in still another. "And here is a
tin of fancy crackers."
"And some good cheese. Say, boys, they must be living pretty well,
eh?"
So the talk ran on, while the Ham Spink crowd ate whatever they
desired. As the meal progressed, they grew reckless and began to
throw things around, so that more than a quarter of the stores were
literally wasted.
After the meal was over the boys set to work to hide what remained
of the stores, in the brushwood back of the camp. They carried
everything out of the cabin, even to the blankets and extra clothing.
Some clothing was thrown high into a tree and some shoes were placed
under a flat rock.
It was not until four in the afternoon that Ham Spink and his cronies
began to think of getting back to their own camp. They were all in
rare good humor, thinking they had accomplished something wonderfully
smart.
"We must watch for the return of Snap Dodge and his chums," said Ham.
"To be sure," put in Dick Bush. "Won't their eyes open when they see
this! I just guess!"
"Finest trick I ever played in my life, don't you know," drawled one
of the dudish boys.
The fire was kicked out and they took themselves to their boat. A
strong wind was coming up, ruffling the surface of Firefly Lake.
"Wish we didn't have to row in the wind," said Ham Spink.
"We can take our time," said another.
They were a lazy, idle set, and wrangled over the question of who
should row the boat. At last it was decided that all should take
a turn, and they started.
The wind was increasing every minute, and no sooner were they out on
the lake than the full blast caused the waves to dash over the side.
"Hi! I don't like this!" cried one of the boys, in alarm. "The
boat may go over-----"
"Well, we have got to get back to our camp," said Ham, in dismay. He
did not like the roughness himself.
To keep the water from coming into the boat they had to row into the
wind, and this took them some distance away from their camp. Even as
it was, every boy got more or less wet, which put them in an ill humor.
"I didn't calculate on this when I started out," grumbled one, as he
surveyed his fancy outing costume. "I'll have to have these pressed
again before long," and he sighed.
There was a point of land around which the wind was sweeping at a
furious pace, and to avoid this spot, they decided to tie up their
boat in a safe cove and walk to their camp through the woods.
"It's blowing up another storm," said one of the boys. "I think it
will rain to-night, and rain hard."
"Won't those other fellows enjoy it---if they can't find their things!"
"The things will get wet."
"Humph! what do we care?" grumbled Ham Spink.
"Maybe they'll make us pay for anything that is spoiled."
"I shan't pay a cent!"
"Nor I!" came from several.
The walk through the brushwood and over the rocks was not so pleasant,
and all of the dudish boys were glad when they at last came in sight
of the spot where their own camp was located.
"It's growing awfully dark," said one. "And just listen to that
wind! It's a regular gale!"
The wind was indeed blowing a gale and all of the boys hurried
forward faster than ever, until they stood in the midst of their camp.
Then, with startled eyes, they gazed around quickly, and a howl of
dismay went up.
"What does this mean?"
"All of our best things are gone!"
"Yes, and the best of the eating, too!"
"Somebody has been here while we were away!"
"I see what it means !" cried Ham Spink, in a great rage. "While we
were at the other camp those fellows came here and fixed things up as
you see!"