The Mystery at Camp Lenape

icated the trampled patch of bushes. "That's

"But I was busy, first with banging my head on the pole, and ne

for the path that runs down through Church Glade to the lake. No use trying to

the branches and examining the soft ground closely. "Nothing here, I guess. Let's go

beneath the tangle of leaves that had concealed it from all but the sharpe

bright label. "Funny! That's the sa

ur bald-headed f

and legs! Come on-stick that can in your pocket and let's stroll on. Just like you said, that Sherlock kid is taggi

inute of the day by a goofy cluck with four eyes and no brain! Detective, is he! Hu

o take long strides to

his afternoon! We'll lead him a merry chase through the woods, and by the time he

ain and lose him. Bet he don't know the short-cut down; and

led the way cross-country with an easy stride, taking care always to keep in the sight of the amateur detective so that he would not lose hope thus soon, give up the chase as a bad job, and return to camp. With Jake at his elbow, he cut thro

minute ago, down in that birch swamp. He was having a heap

n-encrusted boulder to the next, keeping a watchful eye for lurking snakes. They made a labored progress diagonally across the slide, now and then covertly glancing over their shoulders

thinks-as if we didn't know every step he's taken since we started! Hurry up and get into the

it and brought them out on a little-used pathway that ran straight as an arrow from the mountain-top down to the Lenape lodge. It was, in fact, the line down which the water-supply for the camp was piped, from a collecting reservoir below the spring near the crest of the first mountain. A track had

ns, having no desire to lose any precious camping days by being laid up with a sprained ankle, stepped cautiously with a slow, woodsman's pace. Once or twice they had to make their way around a fallen tree trunk, and for some distance they lost sight of the pipe-line altogether as they gingerly circle

der to gain it, to drop down a low cliff-edge about the height of a man. With a glorious leap Jerry surmounted the fringing brush and flew downwar

in his blind leap was on his feet in an instant. Jerry Utway looked up, strai

nes. "You, there, up above-hands up! Come ou

, followed by his face, open-mouthed

here you are on the ground. Not a move!" The man was dressed in some sort of a blue uniform. He wore a shapeless, broad-brimmed felt h

dust and a shower of gravel. "That's ri

anything with us, or you'll have everybody in Camp Lenape after you, Mister!" The boy's b

owly the man in blue lowered his

ed the familiar bugle-notes of Swim Call. "We

gun. "Just a word of advice to you, buddies, before you go. Be a little more careful how you drop

ightened his dusty

aw, not to tell anybody at the camp that you s

ed by a gun. They hopped it. They were twenty yar

any strange men around here in

lied. Jake caught his breath, and reflectiv

t. So

ents. As they approached Tent Ten, Jerry broke the silence. "It's too much fo

e Sherlock is now? Hope he don't get shot. If he don't

he landward end of the dock, where the lake bottom sloped gently in a sandy beach that was a favorite spot for the younger and more timid sw

At some time in his life Billy had been caught by the hired man on a neighboring farm, who had, by slitting his tongue, bestowed on the rascally bird the doubtful gift of speech. Billy knew only a few words, but he made the most of

he laughing ring of boys about him imitated his words and splashed the rock with water. Mr. Carrigan, camp naturalis

hyncos doesn't seem to be f

last "Go on in-aww-crk!" doused his rumpled feathers into the rippling waters. "He's taken e

from the kitchen." Billy finished his brief swim-period, and fluttered across to the dock to dry and preen h

its metal bowl twinkling as the sun's rays caught it. A few hops took him to the councilor

rrigan. "They'll steal anything that happe

ding squawk and flew noisily to a per