"Oh! what was that, Bluff? Did any one shoot, or was it lightning? I didn't hear the thunder, did you?"

"Hang the luck, that gave me a bad start, as sure as you live. And to think, after all, it was only that beastly old flash you arranged to make some animal take a photograph of himself! A few times like that and we'll both be fit to go over to the Merrick Asylum, that's what."

"My camera set for a flashlight picture? Why, of course! How silly for me to be startled! But I should have remembered it in a few seconds, anyhow. Thank you for reminding me of it. And it worked, you notice, Bluff. You laughed at the idea, but I guess I've got the 'c.o.o.n's picture, all right," laughed Will, hysterically.

"What's that over on the other side, yonder? I would swear I saw something moving there. Listen, and tell me if you can hear him breathing before I let go!" exclaimed Bluff, excitedly.

"Hold on there, Bluff, don't you dare fire! It's me, and I'm hiding behind this tree for fear of being punctured by a load of shot!" called a voice.

Will gave vent to a gurgle of delight, and seemed to try to hug himself.

"Thank goodness, it's Frank. They've returned at last to a cold supper.

Welcome home, boys. We've been looking for you this long while," he said.

"Why, he's alone!" exclaimed Bluff, in surprise.

"Yes, and I've got some bad news for you, fellows," said Frank, coming up.

"About Jerry?" demanded Bluff.

"Yes, he's gone!" continued the newcomer, dejectedly.

"Gone!" echoed Bluff.

"Goodness gracious! what's happened?" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Will, clutching hold of the newcomer's sleeve, as though his knees suddenly grew weak.

"Disappeared, and I'm seriously afraid that those miserable hoboes have caught him," declared Frank.

"Caught him--but they're not cannibals--they couldn't eat poor Jerry!"

came from the bewildered Will, at which Bluff gave a contemptuous laugh.

"Why, of course not, silly. Frank means they've caught Jerry, intending to make him valuable some way; ain't that it, Frank?" he said.

"Just what I mean. They may try to d.i.c.ker with us for some provisions. I rather guess they're some shy in that line. Or, it may be they want us to clear out. Any way you fix it the thing has a bad look, and promises to break up our pleasant little outing."

"It's a beastly shame. I'd just like to get hold of those tramps.

Wouldn't they be headed for the lock-up in Centerville in a hurry!"

growled Bluff.

Frank looked at him seriously as if contemplating some move.

"Well," said he presently, "I don't know but what it will come to it that you can have a hand in their removal."

"What d'ye mean?" demanded the other, instantly.

"It may be that between now and morning I'll ask you to make a little journey."

"Looking up the hoboes?" asked Will, aghast.

"Well, hardly. This trip would be by water, and in a canoe," replied Frank.

"Oh! I catch on, all right. You think some one ought to go back to town and let the sheriff know that his game can be found here on Wildcat Island?" said Bluff.

"Just so, but please lower your voice; there's no telling who may be hiding in the bushes around here. Those hoboes want something we've got, and they mean to have it if possible. Perhaps it may be food, and, again, I've thought, they may envy us the possession of guns."

"Well, I think the idea is a good one; somebody ought to go," pursued Bluff.

"Then it ought to be you. Who can paddle a canoe better than you, Bluff?

Besides, Frank is needed here on the island. Something might come up that neither you nor I could settle," remarked Will.

"I suppose so. Let me know what you decide, Frank, and you'll find me willing," continued Bluff.

For answer the other simply squeezed his hand. He was considerably worried over the mysterious absence of Jerry, and realized that the game they were playing was a much more serious one than any that had as yet claimed their attention. These disreputable rascals were desperate; they had done something calculated to send them to the penitentiary for a term of years, and would try their best to avoid punishment.

"There's one thing good, Bluff, if you do go: you won't have to paddle along in the dark," said Will, presently.

The others glanced toward the east, where the light of the moon was just beginning to appear along the horizon.

Even as they stood there and talked in low tones the silvery face of the moon pushed up into view. Being some days past her full, she was shorn of a portion of her circuit; but still promised a flood of light during the balance of the night.

Somehow even this circ.u.mstance seemed to give the boys new encouragement.

"Things never look quite so bad when you can see what's what," was Will's way of mentioning this circ.u.mstance.

"Suppose you come and sit down, Frank. Both of us are just dying to hear all about what happened to you and Jerry," said Bluff, presently.

"There's precious little to tell, but what there is you shall hear, boys. I'm ashamed to say that it was while I was a little ways off, examining some curious mounds, made perhaps by the old Indians, that this thing happened to our chum. But let's sit down here, and I'll tell you all about it."

In a low tone he started to detail the few things that had marked the circuitous journey of himself and Jerry, while the others hung upon every word, anxious to hear the thrilling denouement where he found the comrade who had shared his adventures, missing.

Just as he reached this point, and they were all worked up over it, Bluff gave a sudden jump. On the spur of the moment Frank supposed he had become so nervous over the description that he could no longer sit still. He was therefore astounded to hear his chum cry out:

"Looky there, boys! As sure as you live, some miserable reptile is getting away with the canoe I used in fishing, and left pulled up on the beach!"

CHAPTER XI--RECOVERING A STOLEN BOAT

"After him!" exclaimed Frank, as he also sprang to his feet.

"Stop the scoundrel!" echoed Will, a bit slower at getting in motion.

Of course Frank never once dreamed that it could be any other than one of the two hoboes. They needed various things, and a boat might be among the number, although evidently they must have had a craft of some sort in order to reach the island in the beginning.

The moon was half hidden among a few floating clouds that hung close to the horizon, but gave plenty of light for them to see what was going on.

The bold thief must have been prowling around in the vicinity of the camp, trying to get a chance to make way with something.