Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/112

 rose quickly if awkwardly and reached for his firearm. To Stanley’s further surprise Bub rolled over and seized his weapon.

“What’s the matter?” whispered Stanley.

“Don’t you see; you found a canoe with paddles. It’s someone snooping ’round to do us dirt. If it was a friend he’d come up to the fire and take pot luck,” rapidly explained Bub, examining his rifle.

“Why! it was our canoe, I supposed,” muttered Stanley.

Bub, despite his excitement, found time to smile whimsically. “We brought our paddles up here. You lugged ’em,” he reminded.

“All stay here. I go,” harshly commanded Charlie.

“The Injun has the best head for this sort of thing,” murmured Abner, lying flat and pushing his rifle ahead of him.

Stanley rubbed his eyes in fresh wonder; Noisy Charlie had vanished. One moment he was one of the group; the next he was gone. And no sound betrayed the course of his going.

Then with staccato sharpness and abruptness came the report of a rifle, followed by several more.