Edward Stratemeyer

“ The cave was filled with a curious smell, and Giant and Whopper were practically stunned for the moment.
"Gracious, that was a crash—-" began Snap, when he broke off short. A crash of another kind outside had reached his ears. A big tree standing directly over the cave was coming down, split in twain by the lightning stroke. It struck the top of the cave with tremendous force, causing a number of loose stones to rattle down on the heads of the young hunters.
"We must get out of this!"
"The place must be caving in!"
"We'll be buried alive if we don't get out!" ”

“ The way Snap and Shep had chosen was anything but easy. To the northward the shore of Lake Cameron was rocky and uneven, with many gullies and little streams flowing over the rocks. More than once they thought they heard somebody or some animal moving but the sound proved to be nothing but the falling water. Once Shep stepped into a hollow and was scared by the sudden appearance of several big bullfrogs.
"Wish they were rabbits or squirrels, I might shoot them," he said.
"Well, you can shoot the frogs if you wish," answered Snap. "The hind legs are as sweet as squirrel meat." ”

“ Before the old hunter could answer there was a stir on the tree. The gobbler had heard them and he gave the alarm. Up and out went the turkeys as fast as they could fly. Bang! bang! went the shotguns, and several more shots followed. Jed Sanborn had also taken aim. There was a great fluttering, and down dropped two turkeys like lead. Two hens fluttered around, and the gobbler remained in the tree, caught between two branches and breathing his last.
"Hurrah! let us finish them!" cried Snap, and ran forward. The next instant he felt one of the wounded turkeys strike his face. ”

“ Don't you remember how you used to love those books, Uncle Pierre?"
"Yes! yes!" The man's eyes began to glisten. "And so you want me to go home? You look like a good boy, Guillaume."
"Why does he call Giant Guillaume?" whispered Whopper to Snap.
"It's the French for William," answered the leader of, the club.
"Say, but doesn't this beat the Dutch!"
"If giant can get this uncle of his to go home perhaps they'll be able to get possession of that fortune of one hundred thousand francs," was Shep's comment. "I hope they can get it, for Mrs. Caslette certainly deserves the money and needs it." ”

“ But Uncle Pierre wasn't really crazy—-he was only queer—-and that lightning bolt burning up his beloved manuscripts unset him completely."
"I hope you'll get that money some day, Giant," said Snap. "I wouldn't give up trying for it so easily."
"When I am a man and can afford it, I am going to France and try to hunt it up," answered the small youth.
"Does your mother ever say anything about it?" questioned Shep.
"Not much. She hates to think of my uncle. She was very much attached to him, and to have him disappear like that makes her shudder and feel very bad." ”

“ The journey to Fairview took three days, the boys pushing along as rapidly as circumstances would permit. The companionship of the lads appeared to brighten Pierre Dunrot's mind wonderfully, and it was only now and then that he relapsed into his former simpleness.
Fairview reached, Giant lost no time in hurrying his uncle to his home. Mrs. Caslette was sitting by a window sewing when the pair appeared.
"Why, Will!" she called out and arose. Then she looked at the man. "Can it be possible? Pierre!" And she stood still, staring at her relative.
"Yes, it is really Uncle Pierre!" cried Giant. ”

“ For just one moment the young hunters were badly frightened and inclined to run. Then they gazed at each other questioningly and stood their ground.
"We want to talk to you!" cried Snap. "We know you are a humbug."
"Yes, and we know all about your parrot," added the doctor's son. He did not deem it wise to mention that they had killed the talking bird.
"Go away! Go away!" answered the figure in yellow. "This forest is mine! The lake is mine! Go away, ere it is too late!"
"I believe that man is crazy!" whispered Whopper. "Maybe he thinks he owns the earth!" ”

“ Then Shep came in with the announcement that he had seen four or five deer up the lake shore.
"I am sure we can get one or more of them if we hurry," declared the doctor's son.
They were all willing to go after the deer, and having shut up the cabin and kicked out the campfire so that it might not set fire to the woods should a stiff breeze spring up, they set off on foot, taking to a deer trail, which ran a short distance back from the water's edge.
The walking was by no means good, but this the boys did not mind. The life in the open was making them strong and able to endure almost anything. ”

“ It was a good-sized creature, and the young hunters felt justly proud of their quarry.
"I knew we'd get plenty of small game, but I was afraid we wouldn't get a bear," said Whopper.
"A bear always tops off a hunt," said Snap. "That or a moose," put in Giant. "I'd like to get a crack at a good, big moose."
"I am afraid you want too much in this life," answered Snap, with a laugh.
The problem of how to get the carcass down to their camp was a serious one. They did not want to cut the bear up just yet, nor did they want to spoil the skin by dragging it over the rocks. ”

“ And that was all that was said by the Spink crowd.
"That ghost must have been something awful to look at," was Shep's remark, as he and his chums rowed back to camp. "If ever a crowd was scared they were."
"Well, if the ghost visits us maybe we'll be scared too," answered
Giant. "I don't believe in bragging until I've experienced a thing."
"Giant doesn't want to be like the man who bragged of what he would do in case of a fire at his house," said Whopper. ”

“ The old hermit remained with the boys two hours, and then embarked in his canoe and was soon out of sight down the stream leading to Firefly Lake. The young hunters watched him out of sight with some regret. He had told them he did not think anybody was now on the lake but themselves.
"Well, if we really are here alone we ought not to be troubled by anybody," was Shep's comment. "Still, it does seem tremendously lonely."
"Just listen to the stillness," remarked Whopper. "You can cut it out in chunks!"
"No use of listening—-I can feel it," answered Giant. ”

“ Whopper cut one in two with his hatchet and Snap crushed another with his heel. Then, as they came close to the tent, Shep hit a third with a saucepan and Giant kicked a fourth into the water. But by this time at least thirty snakes were in sight, and not knowing what else to do, the young hunters ran for the rowboat and tumbled into that. One snake went with Whopper, twined around his foot, but that youth kicked it loose and sent it squirming into the water.
"Did you ever see the like!" gasped Giant. "Why, the woods must be full of snakes!" ”

“ Before he could come up they dove into the stream and swam out several yards.
"Say, that's what I call a narrow shave!" cried Shep, when he and his chum realized that the danger was over. "I want nothing more to do with that ram."
"It's a pity we lost the strawberries," returned Snap. "However, it can't be helped."
The two boys were soon well out in the river and they looked anxiously over to the cove. Nothing was to be seen of Giant and Whopper.
"They must be behind the bushes dressing," said Snap. "Hello!" he yelled. "Hello! Where are you?" ”

“ In the center of the raft a small log was set upright, not as a mast but as a support for their guns, for they did not wish the weapons or their ammunition to get wet. Nobody thought of crossing the lake without the firearms.
"We may have to fight to get our things back," was the way Snap expressed himself. "And our guns may come in mighty handy."
"Let us try to reach a point some distance below where Shep thought he saw the boat," suggested Snap. "Then we can land and not let the others know what we are doing. We don't want to rush in on any crowd that is too large for us. ”

“ Most likely, if it is a man, he wants this territory to himself," answered Giant.
"That's the way I figure it," said Snap. "He may be crazy and may think he owns the mountains and the lake."
"It couldn't be that old hermit, Peter Peterson, could it?" queried
Shep, suddenly.
"That's who it is!" almost shouted Whopper. "It's a trick of his to keep folks away from here." ”

“ They remembered having once heard Jed Sanborn speak of Peter Peterson as an old fellow who lived among the hills bordering Lake Cameron. Peterson was a hermit, and having been crossed in love when he was a young man, he hated the sight of a woman.
"My name is Charley Dodge," said Snap. "My father owns a share in the Barnaby saw mill." And then the leader of the club introduced his chums. In the meantime the old hermit allowed his canoe to drift to shore and he stepped out and sat down on a rock.
"I know your father," he said to Snap, "and I know your folks," and he nodded to Shep. ”

“ And the old hunter shook his head positively.
"Are there any houses near the lake?" questioned Giant.
"Not a house within two or three miles. It is the wildest place you ever visited," answered Jed Sanborn. "Hunters don't go there much on account of the rough rocks in the stream flowing into Narsac. If you take a boat you may have to tote it a good bit—-an' it ain't much use to go up there less you've got a boat, because you can't travel much along the shore—-too many thorn bushes." ”

“ No one could tell where they were, but Snap, Giant and Whopper imagined the spot must be half a mile or more below their camp. They had landed in a wild place, and walking along the shore was out of the question.
"We might as well stay where we are until morning," said Snap. "If we try to move in this darkness we may only fall into more trouble." ”

“ At two points they saw openings between the rocks but they were mere narrow slits and not one of the lads could get through them.
"I guess we'll have to go below," said Shep, at last. "I hate to do it, too, for it will be no easy matter to climb out of that hole where we took the tumble."
"It's the only thing to do," answered Giant. "Come on," he added. "Staying here is making me nervous. If another tree should come down we might be buried alive."
They went back, and climbed down to the cave below. ”

“ Soon an answering cry came back, and Whopper appeared on the river bank above them, followed by Giant. Each carried a bundle of clothing under his arm and some shoes in his hand.
"Well, what does this mean?" demanded the doctor's son, as the others drew closer.
"You're fine fellows to stay away so long," grumbled Giant.
"We called to you about a million times that we wanted help," put in Whopper.
"Well, we've had our troubles of our own," answered Snap. "A big, angry ram came after us and held us prisoners for awhile. But what happened here? Did somebody run away with our outfits." ”

“ When it came time to retire, Snap asked the others if they should post a guard.
"Oh, I think we are safe enough without one," answered the doctor's son, who was fagged out. "Let's chance it."
"Most of our outfit is on the boat," said Whopper. "I don't believe anybody will carry it off."
"Let us fix the fire so it will burn the most of the night," said Giant. "That will scare off any wild animals that may be prowling around." ”

“ Fortunately they had cooked some extra fish that noon and this food had not been taken from the boat. They dined on the fish and some crackers, and that was all. By this time it was night and the tiny campfire was a mere glow of hot ashes.
"We might try the other side of the stream," suggested Snap.
"There may be snakes there too," said Giant. "You can do as you please, I am going to stay on the boat until daylight."
"But what are you going to do when you get to the lake? We must camp somewhere?"
"We'll hunt up a snakeless place in the broad daylight. The snakes can't be everywhere." ”

“ They heard a growl, but no wildcats showed themselves.
"I'll throw a firebrand in," said Jed Sanborn, and cut a dry cedar bough. "Stand ready to shoot, if anything shows itself."
With interest the boys watched the old hunter prepare his firebrand and light it. Then he swung it into a lively blaze, let fly, and sent it whirling into the hollow among the rocks.
Hardly had the firebrand disappeared when there came a savage growl and some whines, and from the hollow leaped a female wildcat with a little one in her teeth. ”

“ The meal over, they washed up the dishes, and then huddled down in the tent once more.
"This is the only drawback to camp life," said Snap, with a sigh. "A storm knocks everything endways. But there is no help for it, and a fellow must take the bitter with the sweet."
The storm continued all day, and the only thing the lads did was to fish. At this they were very successful, and a fine supper of fresh lake trout put them in much better humor. They put in a peaceful night, and the next morning, the storm having cleared away, they set off for Lake Narsac. ”

“ Here they saw a small hole, through which the rain was falling.
"That's the way the bear got out," cried Whopper.
"Just listen to the rain!" exclaimed Shep. "I am glad we are under cover."
It was now raining furiously, while ever and anon they could see a flash of lightning and hear the crack of thunder. All were glad they were not on the mountainside.
"It's dangerous to be in the forest during such lightning," said the doctor's son. "We might be struck, or caught by some falling tree."
"We might as well remain in the cave until the storm lets up," said
Snap. ”

“ A moment later the doctor's son disappeared among the bushes lining the lake shore.
When he came back he said the deer were moving up the lake front and as a consequence all hands followed with all possible speed. They kept up the chase for nearly an hour and once saw the game, but the deer were too far away to take a shot. Then the game started to run, and speedily disappeared.
"That's the time we got left," grumbled Shep. "Too bad!"
"It can't be helped," answered Snap. "We can't expect to bring down something every time we go out. If we did that there would be no fun in hunting." ”

“ They looked for Ham Spink and his cronies but the camping spot was deserted.
"What can this mean?" questioned Whopper. "Is it another trick?"
"Maybe they are at our camp this minute!" cried Giant. "We ought to have left somebody on guard."
But he had hardly spoken when they saw a handkerchief waving from down the lake shore. They pulled in that direction and soon reached a small, cleared spot. Here the raft was beached and here lay the whole Spink outfit in confusion.
"What brought you fellows here?" asked Shep, curiously, for he could see that all those on shore were greatly excited. ”

“ It was a moment of extreme peril, for there could be no doubt but that the deer meant to kill the young hunter. Shep raised his shotgun to fire, but was afraid to do so for fear of hitting Whopper, who was trying to rise.
"He'll be killed!" shrieked Giant, but just then Snap, using his rifle as a club, struck the mother deer in the side. ”

“ At last the opening was large enough to admit of the passage of Whopper's body and he passed to the outside. Then he dug from that end, and presently Shep came forth, followed by Giant and lastly by Snap.
"Thank heaven we are out of that!" murmured the doctor's son, and his chums echoed his sentiment. Never had the outer world appeared so glorious to them. At that instant they were all ready to vow they would never enter a cave again. ”

“ The rope was speedily adjusted, and then the three young hunters were able to brace their feet on ground that was fairly firm.
"Now, hold tight, Giant!" sang out Shep.
"I'll hold as ti—-tight as I ca—-can," was the gasped-out answer, for the small youth was all but exhausted by his struggles.
The others began a steady and strong pull, and inch by inch Giant came up out of the sticky mud. To make his hold firmer he twined his arms around the slender branches of the sapling.
"He's coming!" cried Snap. "Now then, one more haul and we'll have him out!"
"Or broken in two," panted Whopper. ”