Bart Keene's Hunting Days Part 15

"Yes," spoke Fenn, "it may indicate something," and he looked at the big reptiles, who were crawling along.

"They're going in the same way as the one was you got," declared Frank, and the others confirmed this.

For some minutes Fenn observed the movements of the turtles, until they disappeared under some bushes. Then he straightened up and said:

"Well, I don't believe that mysterious man is in this vicinity, and certainly none of these turtles is wearing a diamond bracelet. I admit I'm away off on that, fellows. But there's something queer here, and I'm going to get at the bottom of it. It isn't natural for turtles to be out so plentiful this time of year, and there must be some cause for it."

"Fenn, you can theorize about turtles all you like, but I want my supper," called Ned.

"Same here," came from Frank. "Dish it up, cook!"

Thereupon Fenn gave over watching the turtles, and, a little later, seated cozily in the tent, the chums partook of a supper of canned baked beans, with hard-tack or pilot biscuit, and coffee. Then they sat around, discussing various matters, from the railroad accident to their arrival in camp.

Cots were provided, with plenty of blankets, so they would not suffer from cold, and as an additional precaution a small fire was kept going in the small, sheet-iron, wood-burning stove, which they had brought along to warm the sleeping tent.

"Ah, fellows, this is something like life," remarked Bart, as he arranged himself on his cot. "Listen to the wind howling outside. We'll have more snow, I expect, before morning."

"Let it snow!" exclaimed Frank. "We're all right now. We'll have to have our Christmas tree here, fellows. Did you bring anything along to put on it?"

"Oh, we'll hang up our stockings instead of having a tree," suggested Ned with a laugh. "But what's the matter with you, Fenn? Why are you so quiet?"

"He's thinking of some of the girls he left behind him," mocked Bart.

"Aren't you, Stumpy? Which particular one last gave you a lock of her hair?"

"Oh, cut it out!" begged Fenn. "I wasn't thinking of such nonsense at all. I was wondering where those turtles came from. This is a regular stamping place for them, and in the morning I'm going to go on a search."

"Do you really think so many of them around here means anything?" asked Frank.

"It means something, certainly," replied Fenn. "This part of the State is noted for turtles, however, there being a number of different species, but I never knew before that they came out in winter. That's what puzzles me."

"Maybe we're over a hidden volcano, and it's warmer than anywhere else in the neighborhood," suggested Ned.

"Maybe," a.s.sented Fenn, "only it doesn't seem very warm just now.

There's a draught somewhere. Bur-r-r-r! No wonder!" he exclaimed. "The tent flap has come open. Who fastened it?"

"I did," confessed Frank. "I'll fix it." The canvas was soon made secure, and then, while the wind whipped itself into a gale outside, the boys fell asleep in their warm tent, Fenn's last thoughts being about a place where he had seen the three turtles.

CHAPTER XIII

THE MUD VOLCANO

Bart's first act, on awakening in the morning, was to go to the tent flap, and look out. Then he called to his companions, who were still asleep:

"Say fellows, it's a fine day; only it's snowing."

"Did you wake us up to tell us that?" demanded Ned, as he turned over for another nap.

"Well, you don't want to sleep all day, do you?" asked Bart, looking at his watch. "It's eight o'clock. If we're going to do any hunting we'd better get a move on."

There was much yawning and stretching, but finally the chums were up and dressed, and breakfast was served.

"Now for a nice lot of game," exclaimed Bart, as he got out his rifle, and looked over his supply of ammunition. "I think I'll load for bear to-day."

"Do you mean to say you expect to go shooting in this storm?" asked Frank, for it was still snowing. The white flakes were of a considerable depth on the ground, but the two tents, standing as they did under some gigantic pine trees, were much protected.

"Of course we're going hunting to-day," declared Bart. "That's what we came for. Some bear steak wouldn't go at all bad, especially as we can't get fresh meat here."

"No, nor fresh bread, either," added Ned. "I miss my rolls with my coffee."

"I'm going to bake some biscuits for dinner," declared Fenn. "I brought along some self-raising flour."

"Good for you, Stumpy!" cried Ned. "Pity, though, you didn't bring along some self-baking bread, and some washless dishes."

"Well, if we're going, let's go," proposed Frank. "Will it be safe to leave our stuff in camp, unprotected?"

"We can't take it with us," said Bart. "Besides, there isn't any one within ten miles of this place. That's why I wanted to camp here. It will be all right. Well, I'm ready if you are."

"I'm going to take my shot-gun," decided Frank. "Maybe I'll see some wild turkeys or some partridge. They'll do if Bart doesn't get his bear."

Fenn, instead of getting ready his gun, as the others were going, had gone to the box where he had placed the large turtle, captured the night previous.

"For cats' sake!" exclaimed Ned, "aren't you done playing with that yet, Fenn?"

"I'm not playing," was the retort. "I'm going to try an experiment."

"Aren't you going hunting with us?" asked Bart.

"Not this morning. I'm going to solve this mystery of the turtles, if I can. Besides you fellows will shoot all that's necessary. I'll stay around here, and get ready for a partridge pot-pie or a bear roast, just as you prefer."

"Oh, come on hunting," pleaded Bart. "What's the fun in staying here?"

"Well, I don't know as I shall stay right in camp," went on Fenn. "I'm going to make this turtle lead me to where the other ones went. In other words, I'm going to use this one as a guide."

"You're crazy!" scoffed Ned.

"Maybe," admitted Fenn, calmly. "You fellows go on with your hunting, and when you come back maybe I'll have something to show you."

They tried to induce Fenn to accompany them, but he was firm in his determination to solve the "turtle mystery," as he called it, and, in the end, Bart, Ned and Frank tramped off through the storm, for it was still snowing, while the stout lad remained behind, watching the turtle, which he had placed on a cleared place on the ground in front of the tent.

"Now go ahead, my fine fellow," spoke Fenn to the reptile. "Which way do you want to head?"

The turtle seemed undecided about it, for some time after Fenn had placed it on the ground it did not move, but remained with head, legs and tail withdrawn into the protecting sh.e.l.l. But Fenn was patient, and knew better than to poke the reptile to make it move. Presently a long, snake-like neck was thrust out, and black, beady eyes glanced cautiously around, while the parrot jaws were slightly parted, as if to ward off any attack.

Fenn kept behind the turtle, which, in a few minutes, finding that it was not disturbed, stuck out its legs, and began to raise itself up, as if taking an observation. Then it turned partly around, and, to Fenn's delight, started to crawl in the same direction as that taken by the other two reptiles the previous evening.