There was to be no cooking, and the boys carried as much food as they thought would afford them a hearty meal to the edge of the water, they crouching behind the bushes with their gaze centered on the spot where they knew the camp to be located.

"Have you thought of anything?" Jim asked, while they were eating the not very palatable meal.

Jet shook his head despairingly.

Half an hour pa.s.sed, and neither spoke.

Then both started as if electrified, for they saw both the men approaching the sh.o.r.e of the island nearest the main land.

"They heard us last night, and are comin' over here to see who has come," Jim whispered, his face growing pale.

It certainly looked as if he had guessed correctly, and Jet drew his revolver.

The men were carrying the boat between them, and on reaching the water launched it.

The distance was not so great but that a conversation carried on in an ordinary tone could be distinguished from one sh.o.r.e to the other, and the first words spoken by the fellows caused the greatest relief.

"Now, don't fool your time away up there," Bob said, sharply, as Sam took his seat in the boat and pushed her off.

"Why? Do you think this is such a pleasant place that I shouldn't lose the opportunity to stay here as many hours as possible?"

"I think that if you once begin drinking you'll get full, and five minutes afterward every loafer in the village will know we are hiding here."

"You must allow I'm a fool."

"So I do, or you'd be willing to stay twenty-four hours longer without liquor rather than run the first minute the bottle is empty."

"There would be jest as much risk to-morrow, as now, so what's the use waitin' with our tongues hangin' out when plenty can be got by takin' a short walk?"

"When shall I expect you?"

"Some time before mornin'. I'll start back within half an hour after I land."

"If you do that there'll be little harm come to us," and Bob disappeared amid the foliage while Sam rowed vigorously up the pond.

"There is no need of our trying to cook up a plan now," Jet whispered.

"Why?"

"Because it is all arranged. We must tackle Bob before Sam comes back."

Jim appeared thoroughly alarmed by his companion's bold statement.

He looked upon Bob as the most desperate of the three men, as really was the case, and the idea of a struggle with him seemed alarming; but yet he said nothing against the plan.

"What puzzles me is why they launched the boat on this side of the island? They had to bring her way across."

"Perhaps they have seen some one on the opposite sh.o.r.e, and don't care to let folks know where the boat started from."

"Do you suppose that fellow will call at our old camp?"

"I shouldn't be surprised; but it will be too late to do us any harm, unless he comes directly back with the news that we have made a change of base."

"You seem to think there isn't a question but we shall get the best of that fellow."

"I didn't say anything of the kind. We shall either have him prisoner, or be in the same fix ourselves in his camp by the time Sam gets back.

Bob will take good care we are not in condition to trouble him again, if we fail this day."

"How are we to set about it?"

"In the same way as the other was taken. Trust to our chances of finding him asleep, or so far from his gun that he can't get at it until we have the drop on him."

"Don't you suppose he carries a revolver?"

"Of course he does."

"Then he'll be certain to shoot."

"This case is different from the other. There I had no right to fire; but here I should take the chances rather than let him kill me."

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE STRUGGLE

Jet was talking altogether too boldly to please the small guide, and he began to repent ever having consented to take part in such work.

"It won't do to call on our friend for some time, so let's go back to the thicket and make ready," Jet said, as he arose to his feet, and Jim followed like one who feels positive he is going to his doom.

Once inside the shelter of the trees, the amateur detective set about preparing for the work on hand.

He examined the revolver carefully, greased the lock with a bit of bacon rind, and a.s.sured himself that every part worked freely and correctly.

Then he loaded the gun with ball cartridge, and put half a dozen in his pocket. The bacon rind was also used with good effect, and, Jet said, as he slipped a couple of crackers in his coat:

"Now come on, Jim. We may as well sit there as here, and we shall know if he leaves the place."

"He can't unless he swims, for the other fellow has got the boat."

"I forgot that; but anyhow it won't do any harm to be ready. We'll carry the boat down to the bushes on the bank, and that will take some time."

The small guide obeyed.

The craft was taken as near the water as possible without exposing her to view in case Bob should look that way, and then the boys settled down for the last rest before the struggle.

"How long are we to wait here?" Jim asked.