Andy dropped his head and gazed into the fire.  The other even thought he could see what looked like a blush mantle his cheeks, though the chums of the town bully would have shouted at the very idea of such a thing.

“I reckon it was some more rotten business, Jerry.  To tell the truth I was up to see old Bud Rabig, trying to get him to join us in a raid on your camp.  You see,” the boy went on hurriedly, as though fearful lest his courage might fail him before he got the whole thing off his mind, “we’d tried to smoke you out and made a botch of the trick; and I even pushed Bluff over into the lake this afternoon, to get him a duckin’, ’cause the temptation was too great But it’s all up with me now.  After this I ain’t goin’ to lift a hand against any of your crowd.”

“Did you get lost, too, trying to make your way back to your camp?” asked Jerry.

“That’s just what I did.  Thought I could save time by taking a short-cut through the big woods.  Then the storm came down on me, and I reckon I got some rattled.  I lost my head, and while I thrashed around, that pesky old tree came down on me.  Thought I was a-goner, I give you my word,” and Andy shuddered.

“How long did you lie there?” questioned the other.

“Hours and hours, it seemed to me.  I’d shout when I could, but something seemed to tell me it wasn’t no good—­that I just deserved to die right there, because I’d never been no good to my folks at home or anybody else.  But you just wait and see.  I got a light, I did.  Thought I was sure goin’ to die.”

Both boys were soon sleepy, for the heat of the fire affected their eyes.  So Jerry fixed things to keep the blaze going while they napped, rolling a log over so that it offered a good chance for the fire to feed.

In this way they passed the balance of the night, nor would either of them soon forget the experience, though from different reasons.

In the morning they managed to cook some of the fresh venison Jerry carried, and for which the other seemed very grateful.  Then they figured out their position, which was not hard to do, since the sky was clear and the sun well up.

Half an hour later Andy recognized certain landmarks that told him he could make a turn and reach his camp by the lake shore.

“Good-by, Jerry.  I’m going to skip out here.  And I ain’t forgettin’ this either,” he said, thrusting out a hand, while a queer grin crept over his face.

Jerry hurried on, anxious to relieve the suspense of his chums.

As he came in sight of the camp he paused and stared, as well he might, for it seemed to be occupied by a stranger, and he a man with the wild aspect of a madman.

CHAPTER XVII

AFTER THE STORM

“Whoop!  All hands on deck to pump ship!”

“My camera!  Oh! where did I put it?”

“Grab up the bedding and hustle in under the other tent, boys!”