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"We want to make sure that our boat doesn't get away from us again to-night," said Whopper. "Here is a cove -we can haul her up in that," said Snap, and this was done, and the craft was tied fast to two trees. Having had but little sleep the night before, all the young hunters were tired out, and it was not long after getting supper that they crawled into the tent and went to sleep.
At that moment they all felt the cave might be their tomb. "I -I wish we had never co -come in here," groaned Whopper. "I'd give all I am wo -worth to be out," answered Giant. Snap and Shep said nothing, wondering what would happen next. A few more loose stones came down, and that was all. "I believe the worst is over," said the leader of the club at last.
"I doubt if we find another to equal it." "It won't do any good if we do -on this lake," said Snap. "Andrew Felps will not let us stay here if he has purchased the property -as he says he has. I am afraid it is all due to me that we have got to move on," he added. "That man hates my father worse than poison." "It is his natural meanness, that's what it is," said Whopper.
"They had a big crowd and a big fight," said a man standing near. "A fight?" queried Whopper. "Yes. It's a wonder somebody wasn't killed." "What was the fight about?" questioned the doctor's son. "Why, it seems the head boss of the show discharged four of the wagon drivers for drunkenness. The fellows wanted their full month's wages and the boss wouldn't give it to them.
"Well, that's not so bad, for a start," observed Giant, as they took up their game. "If I hadn't yelled you'd have lost the bunch," said Whopper. "Why, I was most tempted to bring one down with the rifle." Inside of an hour the young hunters had passed to the extreme end of the lake and were coning down on the other side.
"Giant, why didn't you hang up your stocking last night?" asked Whopper, jokingly, and this brought forth a general snicker, and then all the lads felt a trifle less blue. Breakfast was certainly a slim affair, each person getting a small bite of duck, two crackers, a spoonful of cold beans Shep had brought along, and a drink of melted snow.
"I guess it's a bluff -I don't think he has a gun or pistol," answered Snap, and he was right, for no shot followed. When at last the two boys reached the spot where the raft had been moored they found everything in readiness for departure. Whopper and Giant had strung all the craft together in a line, making quite a flotilla.
Their fitful naps of the night just passed had only about half rested them and they did a good deal of gaping as they stirred up the fire and prepared a morning meal. Fortunately Shep had a pocket cup with him, and in that they had to melt snow to get water to drink. "Well, I am glad the night is over," declared Whopper. "I declare, I don't want to pass another like it!"
The two boys had fallen inside the dooryard, which was separated from the street by a low fence. Hardly did they land when Snap scrambled up, dragging Giant with him. "The front door! The front door!" yelled Shep from above. "We'll let you in!" And then he leaped through the window and tore down the stairs four steps at a time, with Whopper at his heels.
He tried it again, in increased haste, and as a consequence shot wild, the charge going over the wildcat's head. Then the wildcat made a leap, striking Whopper and hurling him over backward. As he went down the second wildcat lurched itself forward, and in a twinkling both were on the young hunter, snapping and snarling as though about to eat him up!
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