"Then that was it? You think the tramps have come over here to Wildcat Island to hide while the sheriff is hunting the woods high and low for them? I declare, if that's so it means warm times in store for us,"

exclaimed Will.

"Talk to me about your war scares, what could equal that? Why, we'll capture the blooming hoboes, and let Mr. Dodd know there are others besides himself who can do things."

"What makes you think that?" pursued Bluff, who always wanted to know the why and wherefore of everything, he being the Doubting Thomas of the quartet.

"I may be mistaken, remember; for I'm just speculating, you see. In the first place, I doubt if our wild man would be provided with such a convenient cord and hook. Then again I saw that arm, and it was covered with a sleeve that looked wonderfully like that of the taller tramp's coat, a dun-colored affair."

"Bravo! Frank's logic carries the day. I'm going to take it for granted that we are entertaining angels unawares on this blessed old island,"

cried Will.

"Angels?" snorted Jerry. "Talk to me about that, will you? They must have had their wings singed, then, or else they'd have flown down and scooped our grub instead of using a measly old string. Angels! Wow!

Will's turning poet as well as artist."

"I know one thing, boys, and that is we'll have to keep watch and watch every night from now on. If the tramps are here they'll steal everything we own, given half a chance," from Bluff.

"That's a good idea, and we'll arrange that one must be on guard for two hours at a stretch. Besides, it will make the camp seem more military,"

said Frank.

"I rather like the idea, and ask to be appointed the first keeper of the watch," spoke up Will.

An arrangement was soon completed. By means of a system each of the boys would be on duty as a guard two hours of the night. This would cover the time from ten to six, which allowed the sleepers ample time to recuperate.

They pa.s.sed a pleasant evening despite the many suspicious glances cast aloft from time to time. Finally Jerry began to yawn.

"Say, fellows, as I'm the last to go on duty, I guess I'll turn in.

To-morrow I mean to collect a lot of hemlock browse for a bed; but to-night it's me on the cold, hard ground, with only my good blanket under and above."

"Not a bit of it, old chap. Here's where my surprise comes in. Now, you and our good friend Bluff here have been sighing for a chance to prove which one possesses the biggest lungs. I'm going to give you a chance to make good," announced Frank.

"Hurrah! count me in, whatever it is," exclaimed Bluff, jumping up, as Frank began to undo the mysterious bundle that had excited their curiosity earlier.

"Here you see a couple of the finest rubber air-cushion mattresses ever made for the use of campers. Each can be extended so that two can sleep on it. Now, I'm going to spread these out here ready. You two will lie down on your chests, and wait till I give the signal, and then blow for all you're worth. The first one whose mattress is filled with air will be proclaimed the victor," said Frank.

Jerry and Bluff threw themselves prostrate instantly, eager for the trial, and each filled with a determination to settle the matter for all time. They did not see the sly wink Frank gave Will, nor hear the chuckling sound of amus.e.m.e.nt that escaped from the lips of that camper as he half turned his head away.

"Go!"

Frank stood there as referee and timed the contestants, who puffed and blew with all the vigor of their young lungs, until both mattresses stood out just as full as they could stand.

"How is it?" wheezed Bluff, looking up, red in the face.

"Do I win?" gasped Jerry, too exhausted to do more than roll over.

"Gentlemen, it has been a remarkable contest all around. I am forced to call it a draw for to-night, as you both came under the wire at the same time. It is simply wonderful!" announced the judge, gravely.

Will mutely held up his hands, but whether to express his admiration for the capacity of the contestants' lungs or for the astonishing ingenuity of Frank, could not be told. He knew that they would never have any trouble about getting those two air mattresses filled each night, for the eager rivals could hardly wait for turning-in time to come, so anxious were they for a new trial of lung capacity.

Frank had not camped in Maine for nothing. He afterwards admitted in secret to Will that he had witnessed a similar trick being played upon a couple of guides, and had never forgotten it.

"Just you wait until to-morrow night, and I'll show you," grunted Jerry, as he rolled over to woo the G.o.ddess of slumber.

"Then you'll have to go a notch better than you did just now, that's what," was the pugnacious reply of his rival.

"How does it go, Jerry?" asked Will, whose watch came first, and who was handling Frank's gun a bit nervously, for he was a poor shot.

"Fine. Frank, you deserve the united thanks of the club for thinking of such things as these. Talk to me about your bed of hemlock browse, it's all good enough to read about, but this is solid comfort!" said Jerry.

"That settles it. They must be great when such a simple-minded sportsman as you would praise them. Here goes, fellows," and Frank lay down.

Ere long the camp was quiet, save for the strenuous breathing of Bluff, who persisted in lying on his back, and gently snoring. Will sat out his watch and then awoke Frank, whose turn came after him.

It was just about midnight when he took up his station where he could see all that went on in the camp. He meant to keep a good watch, because, if those rascally tramps were really on the island it was more than possible that they would sooner or later try to make another raid on the larder of the boys in order to satisfy their hunger.

The moon had risen long before, but was hidden behind a bank of heavy clouds.

Frank was trying to figure out how he ought to act under such conditions. He had said that he did not want to do the tramps bodily injury if it could be prevented, but at the same time there might arise conditions that would necessitate prompt and severe measures of reprisal.

He would not like to shoot unless the object of his anger were at a good distance so that the bird-shot would not severely injure the object of his attentions.

Frank had his back against a tree, and could observe the entire camp as he sat there with the minutes pa.s.sing. Strange noises came from the interior of the island, but this lad had spent so many nights under canvas that most of them were familiar to him as the cries of owls or nighthawks, perhaps quarreling racc.o.o.ns or an opossum objecting to a rival's attentions to his mate.

But when he had been sitting there fully an hour Frank's attention was called to a slight movement in the bushes on one side of the camp.

Thrilled with expectancy he watched the leaves, and kept his fingers upon the triggers of the gun that lay across his knees, ready for an emergency.

CHAPTER VII--EXPLORING THE ISLAND

Again the bushes moved. Undoubtedly there was some person or animal advancing in the direction of the twin tents, with the intention of securing a coveted article of food.

Frank never moved, only watched, and presently he chuckled softly to himself, for he had caught a glimpse of two yellow, glowing b.a.l.l.s of light that shone in the semi-darkness under the trees like globes of phosphorus.

"Our first wildcat, come to see what sort of fellows have invaded its territory. Well, I believe in giving all strangers a warm reception, and here's to you, old chap."

As he thought thus he gently began to elevate his gun. The invader meanwhile had continued to advance until its whole crouching figure was plainly outlined.

[Ill.u.s.tration: HE DODGED JUST IN TIME TO ESCAPE THE FURIOUS LEAP OF A WILDCAT.]

The crash of the gun brought the other three out of the tents in a mad scramble, under the impression that either the wild man or the two hoboes had invaded the camp.

"Where are they? Let me get a crack at the scamps!" shouted Jerry.

There was an angry snarl, and he dodged just in time to escape the furious leap of a wildcat that had been crouching on some part of the lower bluff, entirely unseen by the sentinel.