Will made no move to leave his beloved camera behind.

“Hide it somewhere,” suggested Frank; “for it will be too dark by the time we get across to their camp to take a picture decently.”

“I guess not,” observed the other, calmly; “you see I’m prepared to snap off a flashlight picture at any old time.  Here’s after you, Frank.”

Uncle Toby had witnessed this threatened exodus with signs of alarm.

“Whar ye gwine, Marse Frank?  Ain’t ‘spectin’ to leab dis chile erlone hyah be yuh?  I doan’t like dem owls a-whoopin’ dar in de big timber:  an’ I sure reckons dar might be bars an’ wildcats a-snoopin’ round dis yer camp ter-night.”

“We expect to be back before a great while, Uncle Toby.  Just be getting supper ready for us in an hour or so.  And have a good fire.  Wild beasts will never trouble any one when backed by a blaze, remember.  So-long!”

When they looked back, they could see the ancient darkey gazing with longing glances, as if he might be tempted to chase after them.

“Do you think Bluff can be in trouble?” asked Jerry, showing real solicitude in his voice and manner.

“I’m a little afraid of it.  And I want to say right here that both of you have shown the right spirit in agreeing to come with me so quickly.  It does you credit, boys,” remarked Frank.

Will seemed to puff up a bit under the compliment, but Jerry sneered.

“Oh!  I don’t consider that anything at all.  Bluff is a good fellow in spite of his butcher instincts, and I guess he’d go out of his way to help me,” he said.

Frank looked at him, and opened his mouth to speak, but on second thought changed his mind.

Jerry seemed to know more about the woods than either of his chums.  He had little trouble in guiding them across the territory that separated the rival camps, which was not more than a mile or so.

“I can see the glow of a fire ahead,” announced Will, presently.

“That’s the place we’re aiming for; the lake lies beyond.  I’ve fished from the point many a time,” pursued Jerry.

“And when are we going to try for fish; I brought my rod and lines along, thinking we’d have a fish dinner some fine day?” complained Will.

“Wait, there’s plenty of time.  The season is nearly over, but if a warm day comes along we ought to be able to get some bass, I think,” remarked Frank, who was something of an authority in that line.

“I can see figures moving about like black ghosts,” announced Jerry.  “Say, fellows, this is getting real exciting, creeping up on a rival camp with the intention of holding up the whole kit at the muzzle of our guns.”

“Oh!  I hope it won’t come to such a desperate point as that.  I’d rather not have any trouble with that Lasher if it can be avoided,” ventured Frank.

“But if they’ve got our chum tied to a tree a prisoner?” demanded Jerry.

“In that case we’ll make sure that he’s set free, no matter what the consequences,” was the immediate response from the leader.