"We haven't been within a mile of your camp," answered Snap. "We left our boat here this morning and went directly into the mountains.

We just got back---to find our boat gone."

"Well, I'll be blessed!" gasped Carl Dudder, and then he gave his companion a peculiar look.

"Do you know anything about our boat, Bush?" demanded Snap, sharply.

"Why---I---er---that is-----"

"Don't say anything!" whispered his companion, quickly.

"What's that?" asked Shep. "So you do know, eh? What have you done with the boat?"

"I---er---I didn't say I knew."

"But you do know---your actions show it!" shouted Whopper. "Boys, don't let them get away until they tell us where our boat is!"

Snap and the others were quick to act, and d.i.c.k Bush and Carl Dudder were at once surrounded.

"Look here---you---you let us go!" said d.i.c.k Bush. His face showed how uncomfortable he felt.

"Tell us where the boat is."

"I---er---I don't know."

"That isn't true," said Whopper. "Tell the truth, Bush, unless you want us to duck you in the lake!"

At the mention of a ducking the dudish boy lost the most of his courage.

"Don't do that!" he whined. "I---that is, it was only a joke.

We---er---we took the boat to the other side of the lake."

"So that we could walk around to our camp, eh?" said Snap, his eyes showing his anger.

"It was, as d.i.c.k says, only a joke---and we got paid back for it,"

put in Carl Dudder.

"How?"

"Somebody came to our camp and robbed us. We thought it was your crowd."

"Were you really robbed?" asked Shep.

"Yes; some of our best clothing is gone and also some of our stores."

"Well, we were not near your camp, I can give you my word of honor on that," said Snap.

"Then some common thief must have come along and done it."

CHAPTER XX

IN A STORM ON THE LAKE

Snap and his chums were much interested in what the rival campers had to relate, and questioned the two dudes closely. They could see that both Bush and Dudder were unusually ill at ease.

"Well, all this doesn't help us any," said Shep. "It is going to storm and I want to get back to camp. Trot around that boat, or else lend us yours."

"We'll have to lend you ours," said d.i.c.k Bush. "But---but-----"

"But what?"

"I---er---I can't tell you," answered Bush, and turned away.

"Is there anything else wrong?" asked Giant. "Maybe you were over to our camp."

"Were you?" asked Snap, catching Carl Dudder by the arm.

"Let go!"

"I want you to answer me, Dudder."

"I wont answer!"

"Then it is true."

"What did you do at our camp?" asked Shep.

"Go and find out!"

Carl Dudder had scarcely spoken when he found himself flat on his back, with Snap on top of him. In the meantime the other boys caught hold of d.i.c.k Bush.

"We must get at the bottom of this," said Snap. "Something is wrong here, that is certain."

"It wasn't my plan," whined d.i.c.k Bush, who seemed to be more cowardly than his companion. "I---I didn't do hardly anything."

"Well, you can't blame it on me," retorted Carl Dudder.

"Maybe it was Ham Spink's plan," suggested Whopper.

"It was."

"And what did you do?"

"Hid your stuff on you," said d.i.c.k Bush, in a low tone.

"Anything else?"