"How some of the fellows have changed," went on Fred. "Just think of what a bully Dan Baxter used to be!"

"Yes, and now he is a real good fellow, and doing well as a commercial traveler," said Tom.

"It's too bad that Tad Sobber can't turn over a new leaf."

"Maybe he will, some day," came from Sam.

"I don't believe it is in him," answered d.i.c.k. "He is not like Dan Baxter was. Dan got awfully hot-headed at times, but Sobber is a regular knave-one of the oily, sneaking kind."

"Have you seen him since his injunction against the Stanhopes was dismissed in court?"

"No, but I have heard from him, Fred. He is after that fortune, still."

"What can he do?"

"We don't know. But he is bound to make trouble, some way or other. It makes me sick to think of it."

"Then let us talk about something else," said Tom; and then the lads branched off into a discussion of how the days to come were to be spent.

"Any big game left around here?" asked Fred.

"Not that I know of, Fred. And you couldn't shoot it anyway-it is out of season."

"Maybe we can get some rabbits."

"They aren't of much account this time of year-and they are out of season, too. We'll have to depend mostly on fishing."

It was nearly ten o'clock before they turned in. Then Sam was so sleepy he could hardly keep his eyes open.

"Anybody going to stay on guard?" asked Fred.

"I don't believe it is necessary," answered Tom. "n.o.body will disturb us up there."

The fire was allowed to die down, so that it might not set fire to any surrounding objects, and one after another the boys turned in. Hans was soon snoring, and presently Fred, d.i.c.k and Sam dropped asleep. For some reason Tom could not compose himself, and he turned restlessly from side to side.

"Guess I must have eaten too hearty a supper," he murmured to himself.

But at last he dozed off, to dream of college and a rousing game on the baseball field.

d.i.c.k slept for about an hour. Then, of a sudden, he awoke with a start.

He felt a pain in his ankle.

"Wonder what's the matter?" he murmured and sat up. As he did so a weird groan reached his ears. He listened intently, and soon the groan was repeated.

"Hi! what's that?" he asked aloud. But no answer came to his question.

Then came another groan, and now thoroughly alarmed, d.i.c.k leaped to his feet in the darkness.

CHAPTER XIV THE HAPPENINGS OF A NIGHT

"What's the matter?"

It was Sam who asked the question. d.i.c.k's question had aroused him.

"That is what I want to know."

"What woke you up?"

"I felt something on my ankle-and then I heard several groans."

"Vos somepody call me?" asked Hans, sleepily. "It can't pe morning yet, it's too dark."

"We didn't call you, Hans."

"h.e.l.lo, what is it?" And now Fred roused up. "What is going on?"

"We don't know," answered Sam, who had been sleeping behind him. "We are trying to find out."

d.i.c.k had gone to a post of the tent. Here a box of matches had been placed in a holder and he took one out, struck it, and held it up.

"Why, Tom is gone!" he cried, seeing that the place his brother had occupied was vacant.

"So he is!" murmured Sam. He raised his voice: "Tom! Tom! where are you?"

There was no reply to this call, and all in the tent gazed at each other questioningly. Then the match went out, leaving them in darkness as before.

"I don't like this," muttered d.i.c.k, and he made his way outside, followed by the others. Fred had loaded a shotgun and he caught up the piece. Hans walked to the smouldering fire and threw on some dry brushwood which soon caused a glare.

All looked around the tent, but failed to catch sight of Tom. Then they hurried to the edge of the lake, but n.o.body was there.

"Tom! I say Tom!" yelled Sam. "Where are you?"

All listened, but no reply came back. But they heard a curious noise at a distance up the lake sh.o.r.e.

"Maybe he is in trouble!" cried d.i.c.k. "Spread out and look for him!"

One of the boys ran up the sh.o.r.e and one down, and Fred and Hans walked towards the woods, the former carrying the shotgun.

"Do you d.i.n.k a-a bear cotched him?" asked the German youth, in a tragic whisper.

"I don't know what to think," answered Fred.

d.i.c.k had gone up the sh.o.r.e, where the rocks were rather rough. As he came out on the point he heard a peculiar noise and then a yell.

"A home run! A home run!" reached his ears. "Everybody in the game!" And then, to his utter amazement, Tom appeared, running in a queer fashion.

He was headed directly for the lake.