“That’s about the worst night I can remember,” said Whopper.  “My! how it did pour at first!  I thought sure we’d be washed down into some hillside torrent and into the lake.”

They placed all the damp things close to the fire to dry, and put on their socks and shoes.  Then Giant and Whopper, assisted by Tommy, prepared a rather elaborate breakfast of fish and venison steaks.

“We deserve a square meal,” said Giant.  “It will put new vigor into us.”  And his words proved true.  By the time they had finished the repast they were ready to joke over the discomforts through which they had passed.

“But one storm is enough,” said Snap.  “I trust it stays clear after this.”

The woods were so wet it was decided not to travel through them until after dinner.  The sun came out strongly, and in the clear sky thus presented the boys managed to get several pleasing photographs.  One was of Tommy and his dog sitting on a rock, and this was so good that, when shown later, it was very much admired.  They also took a photograph of Giant and Whopper with the strings of fish.

Late that afternoon found them at the foot of the Windy Mountains.  Here they discovered a well-defined trail and also a signboard, telling them the game preserve in which Dr. Reed was interested was just beyond.”

“Now we haven’t much farther to go,” said the doctor’s son.  “My father said we’d find a good camping spot less than a mile from here.”

“I’m glad of it,” answered Giant.  “This load on my back isn’t as light as it might be.”

Pushing on, they soon came to where another signboard had been located; but the board had been knocked off with a stone or a hammer and was missing.

“Some hunter’s meanness,” was Snap’s comment.

“A fellow who would destroy a signboard ought to be locked up,” was Whopper’s comment.  “It’s about on a par with starting a forest fire.”

They trudged on, and presently came to where somebody had had a camp fire.  Here were some empty tins and some well-picked bones.  Giant kicked over one of the empty tins.

“Hello!  I know who was here!” he cried.  “Ham Spink and his crowd.”

“How do you know?” demanded the doctor’s son.

“Because I know they had some of this brand of canned goods with ’em—–­saw it among their supplies.  It’s different from the kind we have, or what you can get in the regular stores.  The Spinks have their goods sent by freight from the city.”

“Giant must be right,” said Snap.  “And look here, will you?”

As he spoke Snap pulled from the dead embers of the fire a half-burned bit of wood.  It was part of a signboard.

“Humph! the signboard that was missing below here,” muttered Shep.  “Ham and his crowd were too lazy to cut firewood, so they used the board.  If that isn’t the height of laziness and meanness!”

“It’s against the law to destroy signboards,” said Whopper.  “That crowd ought to be brought to book for this.”