Presently they reckoned that they had reached the middle of the lake and here all was very dark.  They ceased rowing in order to get their bearings.

“I am a little twisted,” said Snap.  “Can we be in the vicinity of Humpback Rock?”

“Perhaps we are,” answered one of the others.

Again they took up the oars.  The wind tore along at a frightful rate of speed and the water was a mass of whitecaps.

“I think-----” began Giant, when there came a sudden thump.   The
rowboat had struck the mass of rocks just mentioned, lying near
the center of the lake.   The craft tipped over and into the lake
went the four young hunters, with a loud splash.

As Snap went down he felt Shep on top of him.  Then they clasped hands and came to the surface.  Not far away was the upturned rowboat.

“Shep, are you all right?”

“I—–­I guess so,” was the chattering reply.  “Oh, but it’s cold!”

A moment later Giant loomed up in the darkness, and all three of the boys took hold of the overturned boat.

“Where is Whopper?” asked Shep.

“I don’t know,” answered the smallest of the young hunters.  “What a happening!”

“We must find Whopper!” cried Snap.  “Hello, Whopper!” he called, as loudly as he could.

A distant cry came back.  Then those on the boat continued to call and soon they made out their chum, swimming desperately some yards away.

“Come this way,” said Shep.

“I---I-----can’t swim!   I’ve got---a---a chill!” was the despairing
answer.

Hearing this, both Snap and Shep lost not a moment in going to Whopper’s assistance.  He was on the point of going down when they caught hold of him and brought him over to the rowboat.

As best they could all four of the young hunters climbed up on the keel of the boat, placing Whopper between them.

“It’s as cold as Greenland,” said Whopper.  “What are we to do?”

“I don’t know—–­drift, I reckon,” answered Snap.

“The wind will carry us down the lake,” said Giant, who appeared to suffer the least of all.  “But I say, boys, all of our guns are gone, and other things, too!”

“Well, never mind that just now,” said Snap.  “Let us be thankful if we save our lives.”

“What, you don’t think there is serious danger?” asked the small youth.

“Doesn’t it look like it, Giant?”

“The wind is coming up again!” cried Shep, and just then they felt its full force.  With the wind came a dash of rain, pelting them mercilessly.  Truly, they were in a position as uncomfortable as it was dangerous.

CHAPTER XXI

A CAMP AND A PRISONER

Slowly the minutes went by.  The wind continued to blow strongly and the rain came down as hard as ever.  All of the boys were capless, and the cold chilled them to the very marrow of their bones.