It was too late, however. A second more and he might have done something, but by that little s.p.a.ce of time he lost.

Bang! came the stem of Frank's canoe against the second boat, which was tilted half way over under the impact. Pet Peters took a headlong plunge over the side and disappeared under the moonlit waters of the lake with a tremendous splash!

CHAPTER XII--DOWN THE SLOPE

Frank laughed. He really could not help it, the sight of Pet going overboard with such a great tossing of arms and legs was so comical. But at the same time he did not forget to reach over and reclaim the floating paddle.

He was already holding on to the recovered boat, when, with a great splurge and splashing, Pet appeared on the surface of the water, swimming as well as his clothes would permit. Fortunately the fellow was a regular water-dog, and able to easily sustain himself under any circ.u.mstances when in the lake; though doubtless he found his bath rather cold at this early season of the year.

"Think yuh done sumpin smart, I reckon, Langdon! I'll get even with yuh for it, see if I don't!" he snorted, sustaining himself by vigorous strokes.

"Better get ash.o.r.e before your clothes drag you down. Do your blowing afterwards, Peters. You're a thief, that's all, and ought to be landed behind the bars for such work as this. Go on, now, before I get real mad and chase you ash.o.r.e."

Possibly the fellow feared that Frank might take a notion to do as he threatened, for he had a healthy respect concerning the other's prowess.

At any rate he started to swim away with l.u.s.ty strokes. One might have thought a bear was in the water, such was the noise he made.

Frank found the painter of the recovered canoe. This he fastened to a cleat, and then, making a turn, headed back to the camp.

Those who were anxiously listening caught a glimpse of the two boats as they turned the point.

"He's got it back all right!" cried Will, in excitement.

"Bully for Frank! He's equal to the whole Peters crowd!" called Bluff; from which it could easily be understood that neither of these boys had been in any doubt as to whom they had to thank for the stealing of the boat.

Frank landed in a few minutes. Beyond breathing a little harder than usual he showed no signs of his recent chase.

"This time we'll make sure that all the boats are fast. It was a bad break for you to leave that one loose. But we have had so many strange things happen since we landed on Wildcat Island that a fellow can hardly be blamed for letting a cog slip occasionally. Lend a hand, Bluff," said Frank.

That was his way. He realized that no one could be perfect, that he sometimes made mistakes himself, and others should be forgiven if they occasionally neglected to do the things that were expected of them.

And that was the secret of why the other fellows all admired Frank above any of their companions: he could forgive another's fault, but was very severe with himself when he happened to fall short.

They secured the boats and carried the paddles into camp.

Will seemed inconsolable. He had heard that tremendous splash, and already understood what had caused it.

"Oh! if I could only have caught that fellow just in the act of taking that header, what a beaut it would have been. Too bad that such glorious chances escape me all the time," he moaned.

But the others had too serious a problem to consider to pay much attention to the complaints of the amateur photographer.

"How about going to Centerville?" asked Bluff, as they sat there near the revived camp fire to talk it over.

"That can wait a while. Plenty of time between now and morning, Bluff,"

answered the one addressed, as he poked the fire reflectively.

"But you've got something on your mind," argued Bluff, shrewdly.

"What makes you think that?" demanded Frank, smiling.

"I can see it in your eyes; they give you away. So let's hear what it is, for you see we're all equally interested," replied his chum, eagerly.

"Well, of course it's about Jerry," began Frank.

"That goes without saying. You're not thinking of starting out in the night to make another hunt for him, are you?" demanded Will, arousing to the fact that perhaps he might be left alone in camp, and under the circ.u.mstances he would not enjoy that very much.

"Somehow a new idea has flashed into my head. I don't know that there is anything to it, but somehow I'm unable to dismiss it. The fact of Pet Peters being bold enough to sneak up here and try to make way with one of our canoes gave me this thought," said Frank.

"Go on, please," urged Will, while Bluff awaited the disclosure with equal anxiety.

"Perhaps those fellows are responsible for Jerry's disappearance!"

"What! the Peters crowd? Strange that none of us thought of that before," declared Bluff.

"Then you agree with me that there is a chance that way?" asked Frank.

"I wouldn't put it past them a minute," replied Bluff.

"But what would they want with him? They're not so desperate as the hoboes, and, besides, you remember that Mr. Dodd warned them he meant to run the lot in if they kept pestering us," ventured Will.

"Oh! that was away last Fall. Those fellows have forgotten all about that by this time. Frank, I'm inclined to agree with you. In that case, what had we better do? Take the guns and make a sudden attack on their camp?"

Bluff, always ready for trouble, reached out his hand toward Jerry's gun as he spoke, showing his willingness to follow up his suggestion by immediate action.

"Not so fast, my hearty. If we attacked their camp and then found that they had nothing to do with Jerry's kidnapping we'd be in a nice pickle, wouldn't we? After that they could say we were a lot of savages, as well as they."

"But something should be done!" expostulated Bluff.

"And I propose to do it. In other words I mean to take a little stroll around the point, and see what their camp looks like," remarked Frank, rising.

"If you find they've got our chum, promise to come back for us. We want to have a hand in bringing about his release. You will, won't you, Frank?" asked Bluff.

"I promise you, boys. Keep Jerry's gun with you, and stay on guard.

Don't shoot in a hurry, because you might pepper me, and that's something I object to. Now I'm off."

"Good luck to you, Frank, and take care of yourself," said Will.

Frank made his way into the brush. He could have approached the other camp with far less trouble had he chosen to keep along the edge of the water. It struck him, however, that the enemy might antic.i.p.ate a raid of some sort after their recent miserable attempt to cripple the members of the Rod, Gun and Camera Club in their resources, and be on the watch for stragglers along the beach.

They would possibly not dream that any one would take all the trouble to push through the dense brush, and climb the hill, at the base of which they had squatted upon landing.

Frank was in no hurry. He knew that Pet's companions would be all excited over his bedraggled condition when he reached sh.o.r.e. Still, it was hardly probable that they would venture to take up the cudgels, and attempt any more mischief, that night at least.

He remembered what a healthy respect these fellows entertained for the guns in the possession of the club members. They were more apt to take it out in making all manner of tremendous plans against the peace of the campers which they would hardly be likely to carry out when their anger had had a chance to cool.

As he drew near the place, Frank found that a little hill interposed, just as the abrupt bluff did in the case of their own camp. This he would have to climb ere he could look down upon those he had come to observe.