CHAPTER XVIII

A NIGHT SCARE

"What sort of a place has he over there?" asked Bart, as Fenn came back in the canoe.

"Not much," was the reply. "I don't believe he's camping out at all. I saw some things in a pile on the ground, but they looked more like a lot of instruments than anything a man would go camping with. Besides, I didn't see any boat."

"What sort of instruments were they?" asked Ned.

"Kind I never saw before. All brass or nickle plated. Then there were some boxes. He seemed to be drying them out, so maybe he did have an upset of some sort."

"There's his boat now," called Frank, and, as the boys watched, they saw the tramp appear from the woods with a canoe on his shoulder.

The boys watched the man carefully place the frail craft in the water. Then he went back into the woods again and came to the shore with something bright and shining in his hands.

"That's one of the instruments," said Fenn.

"Maybe he catches butterflies with it," suggested Frank.

"That was a jolly he was giving us, about being a naturalist," said Bart. "He's up to some game, but I don't see that it concerns us."

"What's next on the program?" asked Ned. "Pack up and move along?"

"Rest awhile; good for the digestion," remarked Bart. "I want to see which way the tramp goes."

The boys, lying on shore, in the shade, saw their recent guest paddle slowly down stream. They watched him until he disappeared around a bend.

"Well, that's another link in the queer puzzle for us to solve," spoke Ned. "By the way, Frank, did you ever make any inquiries of Judge Benton about whether there was any prospect of a new trolley line going through?"

"Yes, and he said he didn't know of any. I told him about the men, but he said they might be surveyors dividing the land up into building lots. Mr. Bender is anxious to improve his property, he said."

They broke camp and reached Woodport about five o'clock, got the salt and one or two other things they happened to think might come in handy, and resumed their journey up the river. Woodport was a small place and they soon passed it, coming to a long stretch of water that flowed between densely wooded banks on either side.

"Good place to camp," spoke Ned. "No one to bother us. There's no fun camping close to a town."

"Not unless you run out of salt or something like that," replied Bart.

"Oh, well, one should get accustomed to doing without salt, or other things he can't have," Ned rejoined. "I believe I could get used to anything."

"Good way to feel," spoke Fenn. "I wish I could."

"It takes strength of character," Ned added.

"Don't get preachy," put in Frank.

"Say, instead of moralizing, you fellows had better be looking for a place to camp," said Fenn, who, with Frank, was rowing. "I'm getting tired."

"That looks like a good place over there," came from Bart, indicating a spot where the trees did not seem to be so thick. "Little beach, too, for the boat to ground on so it won't pound on the rocks if a wind comes up."

The craft was put over to it, and a closer inspection showed the place to be well fitted for the purpose. The rowboat was tied to an overhanging tree and the tent was soon set up. Then a place was made for the stove and some supplies set out. A big tree stump served for a table and in a little while Fenn had a good fire built.

"What's the menu?" he asked Bart.

"Open a can of chicken and we'll fry it brown," was the answer. "That, with bread and butter and coffee, will make a meal."

Supper was soon on the "stump" and four very hungry boys gathered around it.

"Where's the milk for the coffee?" asked Ned.

"I forgot it. It's in the boat," replied Fenn. "I'll get it."

He hurried down to where the craft was tied, and a moment later his companions heard him utter an exclamation.

"What's the matter, did you fall in?" called Bart.

"No, but the can of condensed milk did, and it's the only one we have."

"Oh, hang it!" exclaimed Ned. "I can't drink coffee without milk. What's the matter with you, Stumpy?"

"I couldn't help it. It slipped."

"I'm thirsty for coffee, too," went on Ned.

"Use it without milk," suggested Bart.

"Can't. Never could."

"'One should get accustomed to doing without salt, or other things he can't have. I believe I could get used to anything,'" spoke Frank solemnly.

"What do you--Oh!" exclaimed Ned. He recalled that those were the very words he had spoken a little while before.

"'It takes strength of character,'" quoted Bart, still from the maxim Ned had laid down so recently.

"Oh well, of course I didn't mean it just that way," replied Ned, laughing at the trap he had fallen into. "I meant--"

"You don't know what you meant," replied Bart. "Come now, drink your coffee black, as the swells do when they go out to dinner. You'll get used to it."

"Have to, I s'pose," replied Ned, and he tried it, but made a wry face. However there was no help for it, and the boys were so hungry they didn't mind it much, after the first sip.

Supper over, the dishes and food were put away, and, on Bart's suggestion, they cut a quantity of wood to have in readiness for the camp fire.

"I don't know's we'll need it," he said. "There aren't any animals but foxes, rabbits and coons in these woods. Still a fire looks cheerful, and it may be cold toward morning. Besides, it doesn't seem like camping unless you have a fire."

As it grew dark the boys looked to the fastenings of the boats for a wind might spring up and set them adrift. Then, starting a blaze between two big green logs, they got their blankets ready for bed.

They cut some cedar boughs which they laid on the ground to keep off the dampness, making several layers until Fenn, who tried it, said it was every bit as good as his spring bed at home.

"Going to stand watch?" inquired Ned.

"What's the use?" asked Bart. "No one's going to steal us. Besides I'm too sleepy. Let's all go to bed. If any one happens to wake up and sees the fire is low, why he can throw a log on that will be all that's necessary."

They did not undress, but stretching out on the cedar boughs pulled the blankets over them and prepared to sleep. The fire cast a ruddy glow on the trees and shone into the tent which was placed near the blaze.

Ned, who was a light sleeper, was suddenly awakened, some time after midnight, by hearing a stick break. It sounded just back of him. He raised his head and listened. Behind the tent he could hear the cautious tread of some person or some animal. He was about to awaken Bart, who was sleeping next to him, when he saw a shadow cast by the fire, inside the tent, on the rear wall of the canvas. He looked out and was startled to see a figure between the tent and the camp fire. It appeared to be looking in on the boys. Ned stretched out his hand and touched Bart.

"Some one is in the camp!" he whispered in his companion's ear, as Bart stirred.