Whopper and Tommy listened with interest to what the others had to tell about the Spink crowd and about the midnight visitor.  They laughed heartily over what had been done to the rowboat, and were serious over the loss of Shep’s watch.

“I’d be afraid to meet that wild man,” said Tommy.  “Why, there is no telling what he would do if he was cornered.”

“That is true,” answered Shep.  “Of course we can take our guns, but I’d hate to shoot anybody, even if it seemed necessary.”

“Maybe he’ll give in if we point our guns at him,” suggested Whopper.  “But I hardly think so.  He may be as crazy as they make ’em and afraid of nothing.”

“Well, I’ll think it over,” answered the doctor’s son thoughtfully.  He did not wish to expose his chums to danger, nor did he wish to get into trouble himself.  Yet he felt the loss of the timepiece keenly.

The young hunters looked for a visit from the Spink crowd the next day, but it did not come.  Instead, it rained, and they had to keep in the tent most of the time.  But it cleared during the night, and the days to follow were ideal.

Sunday passed, and on Monday Shep, Snap and Whopper went out on a hunt, leaving Giant and Tommy in charge of the camp.  Giant declared he was going to take and develop some photographs, using a daylight tank instead of a dark room for the latter process.  It had been decided that some of the party should visit the lonely cabin in the woods later in the week.

The boys had seen some traces of wild beasts up the mountain side, and thither they directed their steps, keeping their eyes and ears on the alert as they proceeded.  They had scarcely covered a quarter of a mile when they came upon the mutilated remains of a mink.

“Hello! what do you make of this?” cried Snap as he pointed it out.

“A mink, and some other wild beast killed it,” said Whopper.

“Do you suppose it was a bear?” asked Snap.

“No; most likely a wildcat, or a big fox or wolf.”

“Let’s go after ’em!”

“They are no good for game—–­and that is what we are after.”

“We might get some good photographs.”

“That’s so—–­I never thought of that!”

Filled with the idea of taking some pictures that might prove of value, the boys hurried on through the woods and up the side of the mountain.  Shep cautioned the others to move as silently as possible, so hardly a word was said.

It was almost noon when they came to a flat spot, where there was something of a clearing.  Here there was a spring and a pool, and a fallen tree lay across both.

“Wait!” whispered the doctor’s son.  “I think I see something!”

The others halted, and Shep advanced with increased caution, bringing his camera to the front as he did so.

The next instant he saw a sight that filled him with interest and pleasure.  On the fallen tree spanning the pool rested two wildcats, mates, facing each other.  Both had their eyes closed and were evidently asleep.