Andrew Felps put on an appearance of great surprise.

"Don't you know it, too?" said Snap, bluntly.

"Me? Of course not. Why---er---if I knew he was that kind of a man-----" Andrew Felps broke off short. "Were you listening to our talk?"

"We were," put in Whopper. "We heard every word, too."

"Ahem! Well, I---er---that is, I was only sounding the fellow,"

said the lumber dealer, lamely.

To this Snap did not say anything, although Andrew Felps looked at him inquiringly.

"You don't suppose I was going to have anything to do with him?"

demanded Andrew Felps, after a pause.

"Yes, I do," said Snap, bluntly.

"Bah! Nonsense! If he had shown those papers I should have taken them away from him."

"To keep?"

"No; to return to their rightful owners."

To this Snap made no reply. Andrew Felps was clearly disconcerted.

"Evidently you don't believe me, boy."

Still Snap was silent.

"See here, do you expect to make trouble for me on this account?"

pursued the lumber dealer, growing angry.

"I shall tell the truth, that's all," said Snap.

"I see! You'll try to make it appear that I am in with this---this fellow!" snorted the lumber dealer. "Well, just you take care, or you may get into trouble!"

"If I get into trouble I guess I'll know how to take care of myself,"

returned Snap, stoutly.

He had scarcely uttered the words when Andrew Felps caught him roughly by the shoulder.

"Boy, take care how you talk to me!"

"Let go of me!" exclaimed Snap, with flashing eyes. "Let go, I say!" And he jerked himself away. "Don't you dare lay your hands upon me again, Andrew Felps!"

"Ha! you imp!" snarled the lumber dealer, and caught hold of Snap once more. This time the boy tried to free himself, but in vain.

"If you don't let go, I'll strike you!" he panted, and the next moment he struck out, landing a hard blow on the lumber dealer's nose. The latter was so amazed he fell back and released his hold.

"Oh, my nose!" groaned the man. "You young scoundrel! I'll-----"

At that moment came a cry of alarm from a distance.

"Hullo! hullo! Come this way! The woods are on fire! We'll be burnt out before we know it!"

CHAPTER x.x.xI

THE FOREST FIRE---CONCLUSION

The cry was such an unexpected one that for the moment every one who heard it was dumfounded. The men stared at each other and so did the boys. Then all looked up and saw a thick ma.s.s of smoke rolling over the forest. The wind was blowing briskly, and soon the smoke began to envelop the entire crowd.

"Say, fellows, we must get out of here!" exclaimed Shep. "We can't stay, or we'll be burnt up!"

"That's the truth," put in Giant. "Let us get back to our boat."

"To the camp!" came from Andrew Felps, and ran off, followed by the other men.

"Shall we go after them?" asked Snap.

"What good will it do?" said Shep. "They can get out on the lake in their boat---if the fire gets too strong for them."

"The wind is blowing it directly to the lake," said Whopper. "My, but it has gained headway!" he added, looking around.

The smoke was growing thicker, and already they could see the sparks floating overhead. From a distance they heard a wild cry, but could not make out what it was.

Turning around, they started for the spot where they had left their boat.

In their mad rush to gain the craft, they did not notice that they got off the trail until they were halted by a ma.s.s of brushwood on all sides of them.

"This can't be right!" panted Giant. "I didn't notice this before."

"We have made some mistake!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Shep. "Maybe we are going away from the lake!"

They gazed around. The smoke was growing thicker, and now a few burning brands fell close by.

"One thing is certain, we can't stay here!" came from Snap. "Let us go straight downhill. That will bring us to water sooner or later."

This was considered good advice and all acted on it without delay.

The smoke was now so thick they could scarcely see in any direction.

The light of the sun was obscure, making it as dark as if it was night.

"Here is a little stream!" called out Giant, presently. "This must run into the lake!"

All stepped into the brook and followed it for several hundred feet.