“Well, let them keep their distance, that’s all I ask,” said the doctor’s son.

The next day Snap, Shep and Giant rested, while Whopper and Tommy went on a short hunt, bringing in some partridges and several squirrels.  The boys took a few pictures, Snap using an extra camera that had been brought along.  They now had a fine collection, of which they were exceedingly proud.

Sunday passed, and still they heard nothing from Jed Sanborn.  The boys went hunting several times and brought in a variety of small game.  They made a trip to the mountain-top and got several more photographs of value.  Films and plates were carefully stored away in water-and-light-tight cases.

“I am sure my father will be greatly pleased when he sees what we have accomplished,” said Shep.  “I don’t believe he thought we could do so well.”

On Tuesday morning, just after breakfast, the young hunters heard somebody coming through the woods toward them.  Wags set up a violent barking.

“Maybe it’s Sanborn with the circus folks,” said Whopper.

“Oh, what shall I do?” asked Tommy in alarm.  “I don’t want them to see me.”

“It’s the Spink crowd!” cried Giant.  “Say, something must be wrong!  Look how excited they are!”

“We ought to shoot ’em—–­that’s what we ought to do!” they heard Carl Dudder say loudly.

“We’ll make ’em pay for the things, that’s what we’ll make ’em do,” answered Ham Spink.

“Call off your dog, you rascals!” sang out Dick Bush, for Wags had walked toward him, barking angrily.

“Come here, Wags!” cried Tommy, and the collie obeyed instantly.  But he evidently knew that the newcomers were enemies, for he continued to eye them suspiciously.

“Think you’re smart, don’t you?” roared Ham Spink, striding into the camp and facing Shep and Snap.  “Well, I want you to know that you have gone too far.  You’ve got to pay damages, or we’ll have you all locked up.”

“You’ve got to pay for my new suit of clothes,” said Ike Akley.  “It is utterly ruined.”

“And my sweater,” said Dick 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.