The age-herald., 1899-08-27
Thrilling Adventures Of S | 4 Summers Camp
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CHAPTER VI.

in bringing to the bank-not a fsh-bah! the remains of some animal, in such state of decay and so covered With debris and slime that he was sung back as quickly as their strength permitted. The animal must have been killed by the dogs or a strongr wild creature so near the water that in his effort to escape he had fallen in the stream. Apparently it had been dead but few days and they pre- sumed that the dogs had thus lost some game.
 pectant young fishermen changed to ex- pressions of disappoin bment and disgust.
 Aunt Nan could not refrain from hearty laughter, but the boys were too filled with chagrin at tUhe loss of what they had expected that they could see nothing Imaginable in the matter.
 "Humph!' said Ned, Might have ex- pected it from this place No fish here anyway"
 Jack had only been able to articulate disgEsted We'll"
 Catch me spending all of another after noon fishingl l tired of 1t anyway Ned declared. Here, I going to the camp; l am worn out. If you want to fish any longer you may fish without me-"
 "Why not try higher up the river?" Aunt Nan asked, hoping that "a bite" might restore their equanamtty and afford Juna some qualification.
 But the boys could not be persuaded, and Julia agreed readily, saying, Let's go, mamma. l want to see if my turtles have come. Don't bother about the nasty old fish, Neddy; you may play wifi my turtles" And She told them of her expected treas ures.
 The Idea had not occurred to the boys before, but they immediately concluded that they could not return till they had secured one or more for themselves, in anai iah ro11 4haxy ,f,,l than they had been with the fish. It af- forded them some needed entertainment for they were growing pretty tired and were getting anxious for tlre older ones to suggest return to the city.
 In fact the six weeks which had elapsed had fully satisfied them all and all would have hailed with pleasure an opportunity for a breaking up of the Phunney family's camp but no one wished to be the first to suggest the shortening of the proposed two months, however unpleasant the remain ing two weeks were to contemplate.
 Notwithstanding the feeling which per vaded, they continued to hunt and fish with apparent enjoyment and almost the same degree of enthusiasm as had prevailed from the first. It is safe to say, however, that the episode which occurred the night following the disappointment of Ned and Jack was not quite so unwelcome as il would have been three or four weeks ear Her.
 On two successive nights some of the provision had mysteriously disappeared and the boys having become nervous over ir had held a consultation when seated around the tent doors and it had been de- cided that tonight they should watch for the thief.
 Suppose some one goes to sleep, what then?" asked Fred.
 Why we shall strap him, that's what The boy who sleeps at his post tonight may just watch, for he'll catch it. What do you say?"
 All agreed to the plan and the hours were assigned, beginning with the younger boys, who were to watch the first period together. They would then call Fred, Who in turn would awaken Charles, and so on through the night. The camp fire would be kept up and the watching would be comparatively light matter since there were so many to divide the hours among.
 Ned and Jack though much frightened al the noises and the sfladows-almost too much to move from their seat to replenish the fire-stin were faithful and vigilant. They spent the time almost pleasantly in talking to one another, telling stories and building airy castles of their return home. Fred was called in his turn, then Charles Up to this watch, as is usual during the earlier hours of the night, the sleep had been light and it was no trouble to arouse the boy as his turn came; but by the time Charles had served his turn Vne DOyS were bictpfilS uSdNhy- Wdilci. when called to serve his hour, was sleep- ing quite too soundly to De disturbed by a light matter. He drowsily took his place, though, and Charles was soon snor- ing peacefully.
 Walter was very, very sleepy ana being alone it was no wonder he did not become thoroughly awake. He soon began to blink and nod and then to go sound asleep at his post He was even too sleepy to bring to his mind the arbitrary punishment which was likely to be inflicted upon the culprit who did this. He was in few moments prone upon tine bench and enjoy ing his sluRber just as much as he could have done upon a bed of down.
 The gray dawn with its chilly dampness did not rouse him and not until the sky was becoming rosy with heralds of the suns arrival did he become well awake and conscious that he had not only slept his own hour away. but the remaining five hourS the others were to have watched.
 He arose immediately now and proceed ed to examine the improvised store-room to find not only some, but every particle of the meat and all of the cooked food en- tirely gone. This so depleted their supply that Rafe would find it difficult to provide many more meals for the rapaciouS family.
 He awaited the short time now for the boys to wake with modification and per- haps some nervousness and dread as to what his intrepid and incorrigfble compan- ions should do about the matter.
 The awakened group did not long keep him in suspense. They did not stop at rid icule, but elected officers at once for the ar rest and trial of the delinquent Walter was arrested and brought to court. Judge Charles listened to the prosecuting attor- ney, George, and to the witnesses, Frank, Lon and John, who testified that they had not been called for the watch. It Was further proven that the provisions were gene and one witness said, Dem dorgs looks powerful 'spicious. Dey's been dig ging up de yearth already, and seems no wise hurried for dere breakus."
 The defendants attorney. Fred, pleaded ably in his behalf that the hour and lonell- ness were palliating circumstances, and con- cluded his speech with a fine argument that no conclusive proof of his naving slept on duty had been produced and gave many instances of mistaken judgment resulting from circumsbantial evidence. The obdurate judge and jury convicted him, notwithstanding this magnificent hrrat of orsat0 and was sentenced to