"You've got to pay for my new suit of clothes," said Ike Akley.

"It is utterly ruined."

"And my sweater," said d.i.c.k Bush.

"And I want to know where my shoes are?" put in Carl Dudder. "And my briar-root pipe and tobacco."

"Yes, and my silver matchcase, and a whole lot of other things,"

said Ham Spink.

"Yes; and what right had you to make a roughhouse of our camp?"

demanded another boy.

"All of our stores are ruined," put in still another.

"It was mean to scatter that coffee in the mud!"

"And the sugar and beans!"

"Yes; and put the salt in the flour!"

So the talk ran on, the newcomers getting more and more excited every moment. They had their guns with them, and looked as if they meant to do serious harm to our friends.

"See here, what are you talking about?" asked the doctor's son at last. "I can't make head or tail of it." He realized that something unusual had occurred.

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.

"You've been there---and you have our things," said Ike Akley doggedly.

"If you want to do so, you can search this camp," said Shep.

"But don't you harm any of our goods."

"Do you mean to say you didn't come to our camp last night?" demanded Ham.

"I certainly do say it," answered the doctor's son. "All we did was to hide that boat, and we did that because we knew you wanted to hide ours."

"Huh! How did you know that?"

"Because we heard you talking about it, on the way to the lake."

"Well, if you didn't come to our camp last night, who did?" asked d.i.c.k Bush. He was commencing to realize that a mistake had been made.

"Don't ask me," answered Snap. "But, honor bright, we weren't near your camp, d.i.c.k."

"Maybe it was the chimpanzee!" cried Tommy.

"Eh?" queried Ham.

In a few brief words the Spink crowd were told of what had happened at the cabin, at the cliff, and at the lake sh.o.r.e. No mention was made of the capture of the lion.

"We think it was the chimpanzee," said Snap. "But we may be mistaken---it may be a crazy man."

More talk followed, and in the end Snap and his chums agreed to visit the wrecked camp and take a look around. They left Tommy in charge of their own camp and warned him to keep strict guard.

It was a walk of half a mile, and the boys covered it in less than half an hour. Snap was in advance, with Ham by his side. Ham still thought our friends guilty of what had occurred.

"Here's our camp---or what's left of it," said Ham as they came to the clearing. "Now, if you-----"

He stopped short and gazed ahead, with eyes bulging from his head.

Snap gave a yell.

"Boys, here he is! The chimpanzee, and he's having a high old time!"

All of the others rushed forward, and saw a sight that filled some with rage and others with laughter. Sure enough, Abe, the educated chimpanzee, was there, and was evidently having the time of his life. He had on a highly-colored dress shirt, a cap and one shoe, and was amusing himself by tearing a hunting suit belonging to Ham into shreds.

"The chimpanzee, sure enough!"

"Look what he is doing!"

"Shoot him! Shoot the rascal!"

So the cries rang out. The chimpanzee looked up in alarm. Then, as several guns were raised, he leaped out of sight behind some bushes and went off, chattering wildly as he disappeared.

CHAPTER x.x.x

GOOD-BY TO THE BOY HUNTERS

"I'll kill that monkey!" roared Ham as he ran into the camp and picked up his ruined clothing. "Look at this!"

"And this!" added Carl Dudder, s.n.a.t.c.hing up the remains of his sleeping blanket.

"It was the chimpanzee, sure enough," said d.i.c.k Bush.

"Come on after him!" exclaimed Shep. "Remember the reward," he whispered to his chums.

All presently made off after the chimpanzee. They kept in a bunch at first, but gradually separated, the Spink crowd going one way and Snap and his chums in another.