Of course the other boys were greatly interested in the news that Gif and Jack had to impart when they returned to the bungalow. They found the other lads cleaning up not only the living room and the bedrooms, but likewise the kitchen.
“Now that Jeff has gone we’re going to have everything in apple-pie order,” said Fred. “Of course, we’ll have to take turns at getting the meals and all that sort of thing.”
“You can’t imagine where Jeff is going,” cried Jack, and thereupon related what had occurred at Rocky Run.
“Well, as far as I am concerned those Longley fellows are welcome to Jeff,” was Randy’s comment.
“I’ll bet they get sick of him pretty quick,” came from Spouter. “They won’t like his laziness any more than we did.”
Then Gif and Jack told about the possible visit from the other Colby Hall cadets and passed over the letters received.
“On a tour!” cried Andy. “What do you know about that? Some style, I’ll say! I suppose they’ll want to put up at the best hotel in Beldane.”
“We’ll have to have ’em over here, by all means,” cried his twin.
“Sure, we’ll have to have them over,” answered Gif. “The bungalow is plenty big enough. And besides we were thinking we might get up a baseball game against the Longley bunch.”
“Right-o!” cried Fred.
“And we’ll wallop them good and plenty,” said Spouter.
“Why can’t we challenge ’em right away?” asked Andy impatiently.
“No, we’d better wait until the other fellows get here. They may not want to stay that long and they may not want to play in a match.”
“Oh, nonsense! They’ll play quick enough.” Nevertheless, it was decided that no challenge should be issued until the other boys were on hand.
Now that Jeff was gone, the boys felt more at home than ever. They could do exactly as they pleased with no older person to interfere.
“Gif, you’ll have to make out a regular schedule for us to follow,” said Jack. “You’re at the head of the camp, you know.”
“Fiddlesticks!” cried Gif. “You fellows have as much to say here as I have. This is an every-man-for-himself camp.”
Just the same a schedule was made out, the boys taking turns in pairs at cooking while the others took turns at making beds and cleaning up generally. This schedule worked out very well, and while some of the things may not have been cooked as well as if the colored man had served them, nobody complained.
The boys had not forgotten about the big black bear, and on the following day all set out on a hunt. Each carried firearms of some sort, and they likewise took with them a substantial lunch, for there was no telling when they would get back to the bungalow.
“Now that Jeff is gone, I guess we’d better lock up the bungalow,” said Gif. “We don’t want any tramps or wild animals to get into it.”
“What about the boats?” questioned Spouter.
“Oh, we’ll leave them tied up. I think they’ll be safe enough. We can put the oars in the house.” And this was done.
Gif was acquainted with the path that ran along the lakeshore, and he led the way with the others following close behind. They passed through some heavy brushwood, and then made their way around and over a series of rough rocks.
“Say, this puts me in mind of some of the climbing we did when we located that cave where those fellows had the German submarine,” remarked Fred, referring to a time which has been described in detail in the volume entitled “The Rover Boys Under Canvas.”
“Gee, but those were exciting times!” said Jack.
“Oh, we’ve had some other exciting times since then,” came from Randy. “Don’t forget our days down in Texas and out at Big Horn Ranch.”
The six lads pressed on, Gif and Jack somewhat in advance and the others following more slowly. Spouter brought up the rear, for he was very apt at times to stop to view the situation.
“I never saw more beautiful views,” said he, as he came to a halt at a point where the path overlooked the sparkling lake. “Every turn is beautiful enough to drive an artist crazy. I wish I could paint. I’d like to spend the whole summer doing some of these scenes.”
“We’ve got to pay more attention to taking pictures, Spouter,” answered Randy. “A nice collection of photos will give us something to remember this outing by.”
As they walked through the woods they started up some small game, but did not attempt to do any shooting, not being certain in regard to the game laws. Besides, they knew that a shot would frighten the bear if it was anywhere in that vicinity. They had small cameras along and occasionally stopped to snap a picture or two.
Presently they reached the rocky point where the bear had been seen. They approached cautiously, thinking that bruin might possibly be in sight. But nothing came to view.
“I bet this is a good cove for fishing,” remarked Fred. “I’m quite sure I saw some fish stirring around over there just now.”
“Well, we’re not out for fish now,” answered Gif. “We want to get on the trail of Mr. Bear if we can.”
Leaving the point of rocks, the six cadets plunged into the woods, following a trail which they knew must have been made by wild animals. As they advanced they spread out a little to the right and to the left, always, however, keeping within sight of each other.
“We’ve got to do that,” cautioned Jack. “Otherwise some of us may get lost, and it would be a serious business to get lost in such a thick woods as this is.”
“It certainly is an ideal spot for wild animals,” said Spouter. “I wonder if there are any deer here?”
“Sure!” answered Gif. “But whether we’ll see any or not is another story.”
“It wouldn’t do us any good if we did see some deer,” said Randy. “It’s out of season to shoot them.”
“That’s true.”
On and on went the six boys, deeper and deeper into the forest. The trail which was fairly well defined led up a small hill, and here they came to an opening from which they could see for several miles around.
“Here is a pretty good view of the lake,” observed Spouter. “And see! There are some rowboats!”
“Wonder if they are the rowboats belonging to the Longley boys,” remarked Jack.
“There is a motor-boat off to the north,” said Randy. “I suppose that’s one of the boats belonging to Beldane. I understand they have several of them up at the hotel.”
Having rested for a short while on the hill, they took up the trail once more and plunged down into the forest on the other side. Here, after only a few rods had been covered, they found the trail spreading into three forks.
“Now, then, which fork shall we follow?” questioned Jack.
“Don’t ask me,” answered Gif. “You know as much about it as I do.”
The six lads examined the three forks as best they could, and after a brief discussion decided to follow that leading southward.
“There is no use of getting too far from home,” said Gif. “As it is, we’ll be pretty tired by the time we get back.”
By noon the six boys were tired and hungry and perfectly willing to rest for the midday lunch. They had brought sandwiches, crackers and cake with them, and washed this food down with some water from a nearby spring. They took their time over the meal, and then rested for another half hour before resuming their hunt.
“Looks as if we were going to be skunked,” remarked Randy presently, after they had climbed up the side of a rough hill and then down again.
“Don’t say anything about skunks,” retorted Gif. “That’s one animal we don’t care to hit.”
“Oh, a skunk skin is quite valuable in these days,” said Spouter. “Just the same, I think we’ll leave those animals alone.”
Several times they stirred up some rabbits and squirrels, and often came across some birds. Once they heard a covey of partridges whirring upward, but they were almost out of sight behind the trees.
“There must be some pretty good hunting here in the late fall,” remarked Fred. He was sorry that they could not bring down some of the small game.
“Yes, it would be great to come up here when the season is open,” answered Gif.
All this time the boys were keeping their eyes wide open for the possible appearance of a bear. But either there were no bears in that vicinity or the animals knew enough to keep out of sight.
“Gee! I’m getting dog tired,” remarked Andy, about the middle of the afternoon. “If you’ll ask me, I’ll say let’s head back for the bungalow.”
“I second the motion,” said his twin promptly.
All were tired, even though they did not care to admit it, and, coming to a small watercourse, they decided to follow this until they could once more reach the lakeshore.
“I think it will bring us close to the bungalow,” said Gif. “In fact, I’m of the opinion it’s the brook that flows into the lake right beside the house.”
“You mean the brook that Jeff got his bath in?” asked Andy.
“That’s it. Of course I may be mistaken, but I think it’s the same brook.”
It was no easy matter to follow the watercourse, because the bushes were rather thick on either side and they did not wish to get their feet wet if it could be avoided. However, they kept on steadily, and soon came to an open spot where going was a bit easier.
“What’s the matter with one of us shinning up a tree to see just where the lake is located?” remarked Jack presently.
“That’s the idea!” called out Fred. “Andy, you’re the best monkey of the bunch. Let me give you a boost up this tree.”
Andy was willing to go up the tree mentioned, and in a moment several of the others had given him a lift to the lower branches, and up he went hand over hand until he was almost at the top of the tree.
“We’re heading in the right direction,” he called down. “The lake isn’t more than half a mile off.”
“Can you see the bungalow?” questioned Gif.
“I can see something in the trees, but whether it’s the bungalow or not I’m not sure.”
“Look! Look!” burst suddenly from Spouter. “Andy, take care of yourself!” he shouted.
“What’s the trouble?” came from the top of the tree.
“Some animal is there, on one of the branches just below you! I don’t know what it is,” was Spouter’s quick reply.