Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-26
CONTINUED FROM LAST SUNDAY
CHAPTER XXI.
ON THE TRAIL.

- RUE was awakened on the following
morning by sunbeam taling across
" his face. Springing to his teet' ne
aroused Bent;
"Come on, old fellow; here's the sun an
hour high, and / expect Jim IS IN an aw1m
way because we weren't on Doaro 81 he ''
start at daybreak.
Bent was on his feet before True had ceased
speaking. and had begun to rake over the
ashes. m
''What are you trying to do!
"If there's any more fire left I'm going TO
cook another squirrel. l think L can eat one ,
this morning, even if we haven't any salt
"Don't let's stop for that The folks on
the boat will be worried, and we ought TO
relieve them from their suspense as soon as as
pos Say! what did you do with the guns
81 leaned them against that
Bent stood with an outstretched hand, gaz
ing at the tree where he knew he had left
the guns the night before and then he went
hastily from one tree to another, thinking
that he possibly might have been mistaken
'Did you move them after l stacked the
things up last night?" he asked.
"No. / saw that you put them against the
tree; but I wasn't sure just which one 1t
This is the one" replied Bent, and, as
he looked behind it. he uttered cry, OF sur
prise. They've been stolen, and here IN
IDe SOU edIIn are lUe OObptlulo VA SAS PS4
True ran quickly to Bent's side. and there
saw evidence of the thief.
The ground just at that place was damp,
and the imprints of the mans feet could be
plainly seen.
I'VE can track him if we are at all care
full" said True. excitsdly, starting oil as
fast as he could and yet follow the trail.
This is an island, and I'll search over every
inch Of it before, I give up, my gun
Neither of the boys thought of the impera-
tive necessity of trying to lind their way
back to the flat-boat The theft of their
guns, had driven everything else from their
minds.
They did not even understand that, who
ever had taken their property could hardly
be forced into returning it by anything two
unarmed boys might do or say.
The trail was quite distinct in some places,
and sufficiently so in Others to admit of their
following it with but little difficulty, and on
they dashed, not even, trying to note any
signs by which they might retrace their steps.
For an hour, the boys continued the pur-
suit without halt. at the end of which time
they came to a place in the woods where
some one had been at work, for they saw
where a tree had been cut down and hewn
into timber, the branches. and chips strewing
the ground in every direction. broken tran.
evidently intended at one time to catch rab-
bits, was also there, and the trail now led
to a fairly well-defined path, up which the
boys walked at fast pace
We've got about to the end OF our chase,
I think" observed Bent, "and perhaps it
would be well if we were to make up our
minds what to do or say when we meet the
fellow who helped himself to our guns.
Strange as it may seem, neither of the
boys had thought Of this before They had
had no idea of anything excepting to re-
cover their property. The details of how that
could be accomplished had not entered their
minds.
81 don't suppose there is anything to be
done except to demand the things that have
been taken from us" replied True; 'and yet
I hardly dare to hope that he win give them
of stealing them"
''Now I can see that we ought to have gone
back to the boat first" said Bent, regretful-
ly. "We haven't got anything with which 10
into giving up his plunder."
seWe can at least have club in our hnnds