“Say that again and I’ll make it warm for you!” roared the timber dealer, and would have grabbed up a gun from his launch had not one of his companions prevented the move.

“Here, you might as well keep this while you are at it!” cried Shep, and hurled a dead rabbit ashore.  The game was unusually “ripe” and caught Andrew Felps directly across the face.  The man staggered back, stumbled over a log and sat down directly in the midst of the scattered campfire!

CHAPTER IX

A NIGHT OF DISCOMFORT

“Hi!  Help!  I am burning up!”

“Gracious, boys, look at that!” burst from Snap’s lips.  “He got more than he expected.”

“Well, I didn’t intend to upset him into the fire,” burst out Shep.  “I hope he doesn’t get burnt.”

By this time Andrew Felps had rolled out of the blaze.  His coat was on fire and so was one leg of his trousers.

“Dive into the lake, Andy!” called out one of the men, and hurried the unfortunate individual toward the water.  There seemed no help for it, and the timber dealer rushed into the icy water, giving a shiver as he did so; and then the danger was over.

“Come, we had better get out of here!” cried Whopper, in a low voice.  “He’ll be as mad as a thousand hornets now, and ready to chew us up into mincemeat!”

All of the boys were at the oars and without delay, they began to pull a strong stroke.

“Come back here, you young rascals!” cried one of the men of the party.  “Come back, I say!”

“We are not going back,” declared Snap.

“Not much,” put in Shep.  “I’d rather jump overboard.”

“It served Felps right for being so mean,” said Giant.  “Just look at all our work gone to waste.  It’s enough to make one cry.”

“And such a fine spot as it was, too,” said Shep.  “I doubt if we find another to equal it.”

“It won’t do any good if we do—–­on this lake,” said Snap.  “Andrew Felps will not let us stay here if he has purchased the property—–­as he says he has.  I am afraid it is all due to me that we have got to move on,” he added.  “That man hates my father worse than poison.”

“It is his natural meanness, that’s what it is,” said Whopper.  “He is mean enough to get drowned, so as to save the expense of a cemetery lot.”

While talking, the boys continued to row steadily, and soon a point of land took them out of sight of Andrew Felps and his party.  Then they rested on their oars and held a consultation.

“This is certainly something we didn’t bargain for,” was Snap’s comment.  “It knocks all of our plans endways, as the saying goes.”

“I hope you’re not thinking of going home?” said Giant, quickly.

“Home!” cried Shep.  “Don’t you dare to mention such a thing.  No, I am not going home, boys.  But one thing is certain, we can’t stay at Lake Cameron.”