“Now he won’t go thirsty for a long time,” said Shep.

They cooked themselves a good breakfast and a little later set off across the hills in the direction of the end of Firefly Lake.  It was their purpose to get to the lake by noon if possible, and then strike out along the rocky watercourse leading to Lake Cameron.

“We’ll have to be careful how we tackle that hermit,” said the doctor’s son.  “He may be the craziest kind of a lunatic.”

“I’ve got an idea,” said Snap.  “Wouldn’t it be a good idea to wait until night and then crawl up to the cabin while he is asleep?”

“It may be—–­if he didn’t take us for robbers and act worse than ever.”

“Why not try him in the daytime first, and then, if you can’t get the watch, go back at night?” said Giant.

“He may prowl around at night,” suggested Shep.  “And, remember, he may not have the watch at all—–­it’s all guesswork.”

It was an exceedingly warm day, and when it was near noon all three of the young hunters were glad enough to lie down in the shade and rest.  Game appeared to be as scarce as the day before and all they shot were some rabbits and one squirrel.

“We’ve got to do better than this before we go home,” said Shep.

“If we only knew what had become of that bear!” sighed Snap.

“Yes, if we only did!” murmured Giant.

It was so pleasant in the shade that none of the boys could get up ambition enough to go on until they had taken a nap.  Then they went up a hill slowly, carrying their coats over their shoulders.

“If it’s hot here, what must it be in town?” said the doctor’s son.

“About ninety in the shade!” cried Snap.

At the top of the hill they took another rest.  Here there was a little breeze, for which they were thankful.

“There is the lake!” cried Giant, pointing to a sheet of water below them.  “One good thing, it will be easier going downhill than it was coming up.”

“I vote we go in for a good swim when we reach the lake,” said Snap.  “What do you say, Shep?”

“I’d rather get to that cabin, before it is too late.  But I’ll take a ten-minutes’ dip, if you wish.”

So it was agreed, and the boys hurried through the woods to the lake shore in a pleasant frame of mind.

“Listen!” cried Snap presently.  “What’s that—–­a dog?”

All listened and heard a loud barking, coming from the neighborhood of the water.

“I think it’s a fox!” cried Giant.  “You’ll remember, they bark just like that!”

“Let’s try to get a photo and a shot!” answered the doctor’s son.  “Nothing like getting pictures of everything,” he added.

They increased their speed, and soon found themselves within a hundred yards of the shore of Firefly Lake.  The barking had now ceased, and they stood still, not knowing in which direction to turn.

“Something moving over yonder,” whispered Giant presently, and nodded with his head down the lake shore.