Page:Young Hunters of the Lake.djvu/259

Rh, with the dangling red horns, moving among the bushes.

For just one moment the young hunters were badly frightened and inclined to run. Then they gazed at each other questioningly and stood their ground.

"We want to talk to you!" cried Snap. "We know you are a humbug."

"Yes, and we know all about your parrot," adde [sic] the doctor's son. He did not deem it wise to mention that they had killed the talking bird.

"Go away! Go away!" answered the figure in yellow. "This forest is mine! The lake is mine! Go away, ere it is too late!"

"I believe that man is crazy!" whispered Whopper. "Maybe he thinks he owns the earth!"

"He is certainly no ghost," answered Snap. "But if he is crazy, we'll have to be careful how we approach him. He may try to shoot us."

"See here, sir!" shouted the doctor's son, kindly. "Won't you come and talk with us? We don't want to hurt you, or take your property away from you."

"Ha! ha! I know you! You want to rob me of everything!" cried the man in yellow, harshly. They now saw that what looked like horns was