Edward Stratemeyer

“ Ham Spink, maybe," answered the doctor's son, much bewildered. "He stood on me and pulled my foot," he added.
The boy hunters leaped up, and after some trouble armed themselves. It was dark around the cliff, so they could see nothing. They listened intently and at a distance heard a peculiar noise and the rustling of some brushwood.
"Shall I give 'em a shot?" suggested Snap.
"No; you might kill somebody," answered Shep. He raised his voice:
"Hi, Ham Spink! Come back here! We know you!" ”

“ When the young hunters finally emerged from the tent a surprise awaited them. Tommy was ahead of them, and the circus boy had cut such dry wood as he could find and started a big blaze. More than this, he had put on a kettle of water to boil.
"Good for you, Tommy!" cried the doctor's son. "We'll soon have a hot cup of coffee to cheer us, and we can dry out the tent and our clothing while we get breakfast."
"That's about the worst night I can remember," said Whopper. "My! how it did pour at first! I thought sure we'd be washed down into some hillside torrent and into the lake." ”

“ Soon the boat that carried the dudish bully and his cronies disappeared around a bend of the river.
In a very few minutes Shep and his chums had their rowboat out. They were used to rowing together, and each took his accustomed place at the oars. Shep gave the word, and like clockwork four blades dropped into the water and the rowboat shot away from the dock.
"Where shall we go?" asked Giant.
"Let us row over to Lackney's orchard," answered Snap. "Dandy apples there—-and Mr. Lackney told me we could help ourselves."
"Suits me!" cried Whopper. "I'd rather eat apples than go to a fire. ”

“ Deep in a hollow they came upon the unmistakable hoofmarks of three deer. They followed these through the woods and to a small clearing. At a clump of bushes the doctor's son called a halt.
"I think they may be near," he whispered. "If so, we want to go slow or they'll get away from us."
"Perhaps you'd better go ahead and take a look," said Snap, sure that that was what his chum desired. ”

“ He was badly frightened, and with good cause, for a lion was a new enemy for him.
As the bear disappeared the boy hunters turned their attention again to the lion. The monarch of the forest was doing his best to climb over the tree limbs, which turned and bent between him.
"Shall we shoot him?" queried Snap. "If he gets loose."
"There he goes!" shouted Shep.
As the doctor's son spoke they heard a tree limb snap in twain. For one instant the lion clung to the broken end, then, with a roar, the beast sank out of sight into the pit. ”

“ I know I was," declared Whopper. "I didn't come out to hunt lions! Ugh! Maybe we had better get away from here. You can't kill a lion with a shotgun—-you need a rifle, and a heavy one at that."
"Three heavy charges of buckshot would discourage any lion, I think," answered Shep. "At the same time, we don't want to run the risk of being torn to pieces by such a beast."
"Boys, I've got an idea!" cried Snap suddenly. "Maybe it won't work out, but we might try it."
"To kill the lion?"
"No, to capture him alive, and turn him over to the circus folks for that reward." ”

“ They half starved me and beat me, and wanted me to go up on the trapeze after I had had a spell of sickness."
"We saw you on a freight train leaving Rallings."
"Oh, did you? Yes, I left town on a freight. It was the easiest way to go—-and the cheapest." And the boy smiled quietly.
"Now give us the truth about our boat," said Shep sternly. "You ran off with it last night, didn't you?"
"No, sir!" And the boy looked the doctor's son squarely in the eyes.
"I never took any property that didn't belong to me in my life." ”

“ What to do next was the question.
"We ought to go somewhere—-staying at home is dead slow," was the way one of the lads expressed himself; but for a week or more nothing was done.
Whistling gaily to himself, Shep Reed hurried down to the lake front. As he came out on one of the docks he caught sight of Snap, surrounded by half a dozen other lads, all carrying various bundles, and all equipped with guns and fishing-rods.
"Ham Spink and his cronies," murmured the doctor's son to himself. ”

“ Each of the young hunters had his shotgun, and one after another they followed Shep to the spot where the game had been seen among the trees. High among the branches of a silver maple tree they saw some ruffed grouse, commonly known to many sportsmen as partridge.
"There's our chance," said the doctor's son. "Who is to fire?"
"Let us all take a chance," pleaded Giant. "Just to open the outing, you know." ”

“ CHAPTER XXIX THE BOTTOM OF A MYSTERY All the others listened to Tommy's words with interest. Then Whopper spoke of the face he had seen as looking particularly impish.
"It was pretty dark, so we couldn't see very well," said he. "It might have been the chimpanzee."
"Would that chimpanzee steal a watch, and a camera, and a gun?" demanded the doctor's son.
"He'll take whatever happens to interest him," answered the boy from
the circus. "They are constantly trying to teach him new tricks. ”

“ A little later the Spink crowd came into camp and were astonished to learn of the capture of the chimpanzee. They were glad to get back the things that had been found, but declared that so many other articles had been ruined they would have to give up their outing.
"Let's be generous to them," whispered Shep to his chums. "I don't think we want to stay after the circus people come for the lion and the chimpanzee." And after some talking the young hunters offered the Spink crowd part of their food supplies and a few other things. ”

“ In the meantime the young acrobat arose unsteadily to his feet. He was so weak he could hardly stand.
"Get back to the dressing-room, and be quick about it," growled the ringmaster to him. "I'll settle with you for this later."
"Down that ringmaster! Give him his own lash!" came from a burly farmer. "We'll teach him to abuse a boy as is sick!"
This cry was taken up by several. Growing alarmed, the ringmaster took to his heals and disappeared in the direction of the dressing-tent, whence his young victim had already gone. ”

“ The man hurried on, and presently another appeared, armed with a rifle.
"Wish I had a gun; I'd go on the hunt, too," said Snap. "Think of laying a real lion low!"
"It would beat deer hunting, wouldn't it?" answered Whopper. "But supposing the lion turned and hunted you? You'd want to run about 'leven hundred miles!"
"If you had the chance," came from Giant. "I've heard that a lion can get over the ground as quick as a cat."
"I don't want any of you boys to leave this house until that lion is caught," said Mrs. Carson firmly. "I feel it my duty to keep you here." ”

“ All the boys were now on their feet, and he and Giant were rubbing their eyes. The wind had shifted and was blowing the smoke of the smoldering camp fire toward the tent.
"Don't do it—-yet," answered the doctor's son. "He might bite somebody. Let us go outside first."
"Maybe it's that crazy hermit," suggested Whopper, and gave a little shiver. He could still see that impish face glaring at him. "Be careful."
One after another the young hunters stepped into the open, each with his gun ready for use. Shep stirred up the camp fire and threw on some lightwood, causing a renewed blaze. ”

“ The doctor wants a complete outfit, including a daylight developing tank, and all the chemicals for developing and printing. Then you can see what your pictures look like before you leave camp, and if a picture doesn't suit you can take it over again."
"Not if it's a wild beast," answered Giant with a grin.
"In the case of wild animals you had better save your films or plates until you get home. Developing in camp is not conducive to the best work, and you might lose the very film or plate you wanted the most." ”

“ Shep. "It just went outside!"
"Oh, you are dreaming, Shep," said Snap.
"No, I'm not. I saw it—-felt it! Let me get my gun!"
The doctor's son threw off his blanket, leaped up and grasped his shotgun, that hung on one of the tent poles. He stepped to the opening of the tent and peered out anxiously.
"See anything?" demanded Whopper. He and the others were now up, and each was arming himself.
"N—-no."
"I told you you were dreaming," came from Snap.
"Too many crullers for supper," was Giant's comment. "Sometimes they lay like lead in a fellow's stomach and give him all sorts of dreams." ”

“ Carl Dudder say loudly.
"We'll make 'em pay for the things, that's what we'll make 'em do," answered Ham Spink.
"Call off your dog, you rascals!" sang out Dick Bush, for Wags had walked toward him, barking angrily.
"Come here, Wags!" cried Tommy, and the collie obeyed instantly. But he evidently knew that the newcomers were enemies, for he continued to eye them suspiciously.
"Think you're smart, don't you?" roared Ham Spink, striding into the camp and facing Shep and Snap. "Well, I want you to know that you have gone too far. You've got to pay damages, or we'll have you all locked up." ”

“ Soon the supplies were stowed away with care, and then the chums entered the craft. It was agreed that two should row at a time, and Snap and Giant took up the oars. Several men and boys had gathered to see them start.
"Don't forget to bring back another bear!" sang out one man.
"If you should happen to see that lion, better run for it," cautioned another.
"We don't expect to see the lion, and we aren't looking for more bears," answered Snap. "We are going to take it easy this trip."
"Well, I wish you luck," said the man. Then the boys set up a cheer from the shore, and the chums answered it. ”

“ Inside of an hour after eating all of the lads fell asleep, and each slept soundly until morning.
Snap was the first to awaken, and, letting the others rest, he replenished the camp fire and got breakfast ready. There was a sameness about their food that was not very appetizing, but this could not be helped.
"When I get back I'm going to live a whole day on pancakes and beans and bacon," said Whopper. "No more rabbits for me, or partridge, either."
"That's the one drawback to camping out," returned the doctor's son.
"One does get awfully tired of eating game." ”

“ He was thankful that the honeysuckle vine had broken the fall from the piazza roof, and that he and Giant had escaped from the clutches of the lion.
The hunters of the animal had gone past the house, and now those inside heard firing in the distance. The shots gradually grew fainter and fainter, at last dying out altogether.
"I guess his lionship has left town," said Shep.
"Or else he is dead," added Snap.
Mrs. Carson was much worried over the wounds Giant had received and insisted upon putting on them some salve. The boy declared he felt all right again and that the wounds would soon heal. ”

“ I am going to take time exposures, and put my camera on a tripod, and study the scene through the ground glass, to get the best view possible."
Mrs. Carson, the doctor's sister, had given the boys their dinner, and now she had supper on the table waiting for them. Their experiments of the afternoon had made them hungry, and all "pitched in" with a vigor that made the good woman smile.
"What do you intend to do this evening?" she asked.
"We are going to the circus, Aunt Jennie," answered Shep. "Father said we might go." ”

“ This brought forth another volley of accusations from the Spink crowd. Their camp had been "rough-housed" to the last degree, and many things had been utterly ruined, while other articles were missing. They were sure that Shep and his chums were guilty of the crime.
"You are all wrong," cried Snap. "We haven't been near your camp."
"That's the truth," added Shep.
"I don't believe it," cried Carl Dudder.
"But it is true—-every word of it," came from Giant, and Whopper and Tommy said the same. ”

“ The majority of the people went to the upper floors of their dwellings and peered forth anxiously to catch sight of whatever might be roaming the streets waiting to devour them.
"If a lion is really at large it will certainly make things interesting," observed Snap. "But maybe it's only a scare."
"I hope it is," answered Giant. "Excuse me from brushing up against a real, bloodthirsty lion!" And he moved toward the Carson home, the others following.
"What is it, boys?" asked Shep's aunt, coming out on the piazza. "What is all the noise about?" ”

“ Giant during a short lull in the talk.
"Yes," answered Shep. "And if we do, they'll sure try to make trouble for us."
"I am not afraid of them," said Snap. "If they don't keep their distance we'll——-"
"Give 'em as good as they send," finished Whopper. "But great Caesar's tombstone! just think of going camping again!" And in his joy the youth turned a handspring on the grass. As he arose Giant threw an apple core that took him in the ear. Then Whopper threw a core in return, hitting Shep. A general fusillade of cores followed, and the lads ended by chasing each other around the orchard. ”

“ This time, as related in the volume called "Young Hunters of the Lake," they ventured considerably farther from home—-to the shore of a lake said to be visited by a much-dreaded ghost. There they again went hunting and fishing to their hearts' content, and once more had trouble with Ham Spink and his cronies. They saw the "ghost," and were at first badly scared, but in the end solved the awful mystery by proving that the "ghost" was nothing but a man—-a relative of Giant, who had lost his mind and disappeared some time before. ”