"What about a wildcat or a bear?" asked Shep.

"Well, if you are afraid you can stay awake," answered Whopper.

There was a moment of silence and then, close at hand, a hoot-owl let out an unexpected and exceedingly weird call. Whopper gave a jump and so did Shep, and then all of the young hunters laughed.

"I am willing to let the guard slide if the others are willing, too," said Snap; and so it was decided.

They fixed the fire so that it would not go out, and then one after another retired to the shelter among the bushes. The moon was shining far above the trees and the center of the lake glistened like a ma.s.s of silver. Occasionally they heard the hoot of the owl, and the far-off bark of a fox, but otherwise all was silent.

When the boys awoke, the sun was shining brightly. Shep was the first to rouse up and he slipped outside and looked around the clearing and on to the lake. Not a person or a creature was in sight. He stirred up the fire and piled on some wood and then began to wash up.

"Hullo! you up already?" The call came from Snap, and soon all of the others sprang up and came from the bush shelter.

"This is fine!" exclaimed Whopper. "My! but the lake looks grand enough to take a bath in."

"Better try it," returned Shep, drily. "But first I'd advise you to wash your face only."

Whopper ran to the sh.o.r.e and took a dip.

"Phew! Cold as Greenland's icy mountain!" he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed. "Say, if a fellow took a bath in that he'd stiffen into a mummy. No swim for me this morning!" And after a good wash he fixed up, and the others followed his example.

All wanted some more perch, and they went fishing for their breakfast in true camping-out style. A mess was procured in less than half an hour, and then they got one of the pans hot, while Snap made coffee and brought out the last of the bread they had brought along.

"Our next bread or biscuits we'll have to make ourselves," observed the youth.

It was so nice to take it easy that the young hunters did not finish their breakfast and clean up again until the middle of the forenoon. During that time they talked matters over once more and decided to row around Lake Cameron and then make up their minds at what point to locate.

Once more the outfit was packed on board of the rowboat and they moved along the lake sh.o.r.e, slowly, taking in the advantages and disadvantages of every spot as they went along. Some places seemed too high and rocky and some too low and marshy, some too barren and others too overgrown with trees and brushwood.

At last the circuit of the lake was finished and then by mutual consent they turned back to a point where there was a sloping, sandy sh.o.r.e. The trees grew close to the water's edge north and south of this point, but there was a cleared spot, and back of this a series of rocks, where they discovered a spring of clear, cold water.

"I think this is the best camping spot of the lot," said Snap.

"Anyway, it suits me."

"Couldn't be better, and I am perfectly satisfied," returned Shep.

"Count me in on stopping here," came from Giant.

"Why, this is a perfect paradise," remarked Whopper. "A fairyland of beauty and natural resources. I could live here a million years and never weary of gazing at the lake and-----"

"Looking for something to eat," finished Shep. "No, I don't want a million years of this. But I think a few weeks will do very nicely."

"Well, if we are going to stay here, the question is, what sort of a shelter are we going to put up?"

"Oh, let us build a regular log cabin!" cried Giant. "It will be such fun."

"A log cabin isn't built in a day," answered Snap. "To build a good cabin will take quite some time. But we might build some kind of a shack," he added, as he saw the small lad's face fall.

"There are four small trees almost in a square. We can cut them off and they will do for the corner-posts, and another tree in line with two in front will do for a door-post."

"Hurrah! Snap has solved the problem of a cabin!" shouted Whopper.

"I declare, Snap, you want to take out a license as an architect and builder. We'll go to work to-morrow---as soon as we've gotten together something to eat." And in his joy, Whopper turned a handspring on some dead leaves, coming down on his back with a thump. "Wow! I'll not try that again in a hurry!" he grunted.

"We can take turns at building," said Shep. "Each day two can work on the cabin and two can go hunting or fishing. At the start we needn't to go after anything but small game."

"That's it," said Snap. "But if any big game comes our way we can bring it down."

"Or make a try at it," corrected Giant.

CHAPTER VII

SOMETHING ABOUT A STRANGE ANIMAL

They brought the boat up on the sand and placed their things in the shelter of some bushes and rocks, covering everything with the canvas. It was growing late again and there was nothing to do but to try fishing once more and cook the wild turkey. Snap used a fly this time, and brought up a fine lake trout, of which he was justly proud. Up the sh.o.r.e Shep saw some rabbits, and went after them with his shotgun, bringing down a pair that promised good eating.

"How fast the time goes up here!" exclaimed Giant. "Why, it doesn't seem two hours since we got up!"

"That proves that we are enjoying ourselves," answered Snap. "The time won't go quite so fast after we get used to it."

"Well, if we get tired of one spot we can move to another," said Whopper.

It promised to be warm and clear that night, so they slept out under the trees, not far from their camp-fire. All was very quiet, not even a hoot-owl coming to disturb them.

But about four o'clock Snap awoke with a start and sat bolt upright.

Something had awakened him, but he could not tell what. He aroused Shep.

"What is it, Snap?"

"That is what I want to know, Shep."

"What do you mean?"

"Something just woke me up. Did you notice anything?"

"I did not."

The talking aroused the other boys and all stared around them. Nothing unusual was to be seen anywhere.

"Snap must have been dreaming," grunted Whopper. "I guess he ate too much supper last night."

After a look around, the boys went to sleep again, and n.o.body got up until after seven o'clock. Then Giant began to stir around among the stores.

"Well, I declare!" he shouted. "Come here, fellows!"

"What is it?" asked Snap, running forward, followed by the others.