Young Hunters of the Lake | Page 7

"I'd know 'em out of a million.
"We'll lay for them, Whopper."
Having donned their clothing, the four boys started back for town. To
get to the road they had to cross a wide pasture, and when they were in
the middle of this they saw a man approaching. The man carried a
heavy cane, which he shook at them.

"Hello, it's Mr. Spink!" cried Snap.
"Come to warn us away, I suppose," grumbled the doctor's son. "Shall I
tell him about what was done to our clothing?"
"No," answered Whopper. "We are not certain it was Ham and Carl."
Mr. Spink was a tall, overbearing man, who dressed almost as loudly as
did his son. He strode up to the four lads with a dark look on his face,
and this look grew even more resentful when he recognized them.
"Ha! so you are going to come here in spite of my warnings, eh?" he
said, harshly.
"You haven't warned us or anything, Mr. Spink," answered Snap,
calmly.
"Can't you read? Doesn't the sign say, 'All trespassing forbidden'? That
is plain English, isn't it?"
"I haven't seen any sign," said Shep
"Because you didn't want to see it, young man!"
"We have only been down to the cove swimming," put in Giant.
"This land is mine now, and I want you boys to keep off of it,"
exclaimed Mr. Spink, hotly. "If I catch you on it again I'll have you
arrested."
"We'll get off as soon as we can," answered Snap. And then he added
suddenly: "Is Ham home?"
"You mean my son Hamilton, I presume? Yes, he is home. What do
you want of him?"
"Nothing, just now. But we may want something later," answered Snap,
and started again for the road, his chums following.

CHAPTER IV
THE STORY OF A GHOST
"I say, what do you want of my son Hamilton?" repeated Mr. Spink,
coming after the boys with a look of curiosity on his face.
"We want to see him," replied Snap, after a look at his chums.
"What about?"
"We think he played us a mean trick," put in Whopper, as Snap paused.
"Oh, I thought that affair was a thing of the past," said Mr. Spink,
loftily. "My son was not to blame so much as that tramp. The tramp
told a string of falsehoods---"
"We don't mean that, Mr. Spink," spoke up Giant. "We mean a trick
Ham and his friend, Carl Dudder, played on us this afternoon."
"Humph! You ahem!---you must be mistaken."
"If we are we won't say anything," said Whopper. "But if he did play
the trick---"
"We'll get square with him for it," finished Shep.
"What are you talking about anyway?" demanded the rich man. "I don't
see why you can't leave my son alone."
"We will---if he'll leave us alone," said Snap.
"What do you accuse him of?"
"While we were swimming two fellows came up, took our clothes, and
tried to run away with them," came from Giant. "We are pretty sure the
fellows were Ham and Carl. When we went after them they dropped the

clothes in a hurry. Two socks, a collar, and a necktie are missing."
"Yes, and my undershirt was full of knots," grumbled the doctor's son.
"Just wait till I catch the fellows who did that---I'll show 'em!"
"Humph! is that all?" growled Mr. Spink. "I imagine you are only
making up this tale to get my son into difficulties,---just because you
know I will not permit you to come here to swim. Now clear out, and
be quick about it,---and don't ever come here again." And having thus
delivered himself he shook his heavy cane at them, turned on his heel,
and walked, away.
"He's a gentleman, I must say," declared Snap, when Mr. Spink was out
of hearing. "A person can easily see where Ham gets his arrogant
ways."
"Yes, and he'll stick up for Ham first, last and all the time," added
Whopper.
As the boys walked home they discussed the situation from several
points of view. Reaching the street leading to the railroad depot they
came in sight of a familiar figure ahead of them. It was the old hunter,
Jed Sanborn, and he carried a gun in one hand and a fishing rod in the
other, while a basket was slung over his shoulder by a broad strap.
"Hello, Jed!" sang out Snap, and ran forward to stop the man.
"Why, boys, how are ye!" said the old hunter, turning around and
halting. "Ready to go on your summer trip?" And he smiled broadly.
"Not yet," answered Shep. "But we are going out after the Fourth of
July."
"So I heard. Well, I hope ye have as good a time as ye had last summer
an' last winter."
"We