The sun had set behind the mountains in the west, and with the gathering of the dusk their fears increased.

"Something dreadful must have happened to them," said Will, looking alarmed.

Bluff tried to laugh it off, saying:

"Humbug! What could happen to those two chaps? They're up in all that pertains to the forest, and they've got a gun along, too. It's you and I that may well be called the babes in the woods. We know precious little between us; but you just bet n.o.body can give us points on how to cook rice."

But Will was too much worried to even show signs of anger or reproach.

"What if they don't come at all? What if both fellows disappear mysteriously as if they were swallowed up in the earth? We'll feel pretty tough telling their parents the sad news. I kind of wish now we hadn't come," he remarked dolefully.

"Just let up on that tune, will you? Think of the pictures you have already secured, and the others coming. Why, the boys might have been delayed by a dozen things. Make up your mind they're all right and will pop in on us at any minute."

But despite Bluff's attempt to cheer his mate up, Will kept watching the bushes in the light of the rousing fire they kept going, as if hoping against hope that his prediction of evil might not be fulfilled.

They waited until the supper began to get cold.

"We'll have to eat by ourselves, I reckon, partner. Those other chaps have given us the cold shake for just now. But they'll be along after awhile, never fear," said Bluff, putting on a bold face, even while his heart was troubled.

Will was seriously alarmed, but he tried not to show it, out of pride.

So there the two poor fellows sat as the time pa.s.sed, trying to a.s.sume a nonchalance that neither of them really felt.

Twice they started up as some sound arose to startle them. Once it was a shrill cry from the neighboring woods, and Bluff laughed to recognize the solemn "whoo-whoo" of an owl; the other time it was some equally harmless source from which the alarming sound sprung.

The idea of spending the night by themselves was far from pleasant.

Neither of them wanted to sit up, and yet they dared not lie down and try to sleep.

"This isn't so very much fun," grumbled Bluff, as he held on to the gun and continued to stare about him at the changing shadows that seemed to flutter around the outskirts of the camp.

It had been a question of dispute between them as to whether they should keep up a good fire or allow it to dwindle down. Will was for having a roaring blaze that would serve to warn all evildoers and trespa.s.sers that they were awake and on the watch. On his part Bluff declared it would draw trouble; so they compromised by allowing the fire to die partly down.

"Say, it must be getting awful late," remarked Will, stifling a yawn.

"Why don't you lie down and get some sleep, then?" expostulated the other; "I'll stand guard, and nothing is going to happen."

"Of course not, but you see I know I couldn't sleep a wink thinking about those two poor fellows, and wondering what has happened. Do you suppose they could be drowned, Bluff?" asked Will, in an awe-struck voice.

"Aw, get out with your gloomy ideas. Drowned--those fellows drowned--not on your life. They have some good reason for not showing up. I don't know what it is, but you'll see when they do come. Don't get timid, Will."

"Timid! Who's showing the white feather, I'd like to know. Why, I'm not afraid of anything that could happen here. You never saw me shake unless it was with the cold. What is there to fear, after all? Just lie down if you feel like it, and---- What's that?"

Will gave vent to a half-m.u.f.fled yell when a sudden vivid flash dispelled the darkness around them, as if lightning had cut the gloom of night.

CHAPTER X--FRANK TRIES TO FIGURE IT OUT

Frank was sorely perplexed. He felt sure that Jerry must have fallen into the hands of some enemies while he was busily engaged in examining the second Indian mound. Perhaps it might be that he had even heard the low cry of his chum when the others seized upon him, but in his ignorance had supposed it to be the call of a bird in the brush.

He tried to read the signs the best he could.

"There's that same small footprint, showing that the two tramps have been here. Were they watching for us, or did we just happen to drop in upon some favorite hiding-place of theirs? They saw a chance to get my pard while I was away with the gun. And now what will they do with him?"

So he pondered as he stood there looking around at the dense foliage that gave no hint as to where these lawless characters could have taken poor Jerry.

Frank searched high and low as the minutes pa.s.sed, but without any success. He saw the coming of night with uneasiness.

"This is a nice pickle for me. Trying to warn the others, and I fall into the pit myself the first one. But they wouldn't dare hurt Jerry. We haven't done them any harm. What they really want, I imagine, consists of our guns and food. Then they could hold out for a long campaign in the woods, and snap their fingers at the sheriff and his posse. Like as not, in the morning they'll try to open communications with us and offer Jerry in exchange for our things."

The thought gave him pain. Never before had he known just how much he thought of the missing boy.

Then he remembered that he had two other chums.

"They'll be worried too. Perhaps I'd better be getting back to camp to relieve their distress of mind. It will be all right in the morning, no doubt. And there's always a chance that Jerry may be able to give the rascals the slip. He can duck first-cla.s.s when he wants to, whether it's playing hockey or prisoner's base."

Getting what small consolation he could out of this, Frank now set about heading for the camp. He had ventured far into the interior of the island, and only for the fact that the stars were shining brightly above, he might have further mixed matters up by getting thoroughly lost himself.

There were times when he found it all he could do to push his way through the dense vegetation which obstructed his pa.s.sage on every side.

But having taken his bearings, he knew he was slowly but surely drawing nearer the point where their camp lay. The bluff stood up against the star-bedecked sky at such times as he found a clear spot and could catch a view.

Frank happened to have an unusually large supply of matches with him. He always carried some when in the woods, but that morning he had taken up quite a bunch from the receptacle Jerry had made to hold them near the entrance to their tent.

Consequently he was able to strike one every little while when some peculiarly knotty problem presented itself for solution.

It was while standing in a little glade that he ignited one of the matches in order to glance at his watch, more than anything else. His attention was immediately attracted toward something on the ground.

"The ashes of a fire, without a doubt. That proves the presence of human beings on the island; and I guess an escaped lunatic would never be guilty of making a fire. Oh! those two hoboes are here, all right. If I could only get word to Mr. Dodd now, he would surround the island, and capture them easily. But if they hurt my chum they'll pay dear for it,"

he muttered.

The ashes were stone cold, as he discovered upon placing his hand upon them, Indian style. Perhaps a red native of the North Woods could have even told just how long it had been since fire lingered among the dead embers; but it was more than the boy was able to do.

Again he pushed forward. Rounding the bluff, he now headed straight for the camp.

Perhaps he found himself entertaining a desolate hope that, after all, Jerry might have played a little trick on him, running off, and making camp while he lingered. Frank knew about the old game of "holding the bag," where boys coax a green comrade to go out into the dark woods far from home, and leave him holding a sack over the end of a hollow log while they pretend to scare up the rabbits or other game, but in reality go home; but he did not think Jerry would play such a lark when things looked so serious around them.

He wondered why he did not see something of the fire.

Surely nothing could have happened to the two in camp? That would be worse and worse, for it was bad enough to think of Jerry in the hands of those rascally hoboes, without adding to the horror.

Now he was crawling up near the place under the shelter of the bluff, craning his neck eagerly for some sign of the boys. At first he could not see them. The fire was burning low, and that was a sign he did not like.

Frank began to feel a cold sensation creep over him. It was beginning to seem so sinister and awe-inspiring that he was deeply impressed.

Then he caught the low buzz of voices, and, listening, was cheered to recognize the tones of Will as he made his boast.

When that sudden amazing flash came, Frank crouched there as if transformed into a pillar of salt, like Lot's wife. For the life of him he could not understand what had happened. He thought he heard a scuffling sound on the other side of the camp, but was not sure. Then Will spoke up, his voice quivering with alarm: