Progress with such heavy loads was necessarily slow, and several times the boys stopped to rest. It was well toward nightfall when they reached the stream flowing into Mirror Lake.
Having gained the watercourse, it was an easy matter for them to continue onward until they reached the vicinity of the two bungalows. As soon as they came in sight of the camp, several set up a shout, which quickly brought Laura and Belle into view.
"Home again, and with lots of good news!" cried Dave, swinging his cap.
"Oh, look, they have two deer!" exclaimed the girl from the West. "Isn't that grand?"
"It certainly is," returned Laura; but her voice had little of enthusiasm in it.
"Where is Uncle Dunston?" cried Dave. "I want him to look at what Roger and I shot."
"Your uncle has gone home," answered Belle. At the same time Laura turned away.
"Gone home!" repeated Dave, in bewilderment. "Why, what made him do that? I didn't know he was going until next week."
"He went with Mr. Wadsworth," continued Belle. "They had some very important business to attend to."
"Yes, I know, Dave," answered the girl, and now her voice had a curious, uncertain ring in it. "Oh, Dave, it's the most awful thing I ever heard of! I don't see how I am ever going to tell you!" she burst out; and then, of a sudden, began to cry and ran into the bungalow.
Dave was so surprised that for the moment he knew not what to say or do. His eyes followed Laura as she disappeared within the bungalow, and then he turned in bewilderment to Belle.
"Laura takes it awfully hard, but I don't think she ought to--at least not yet," said the girl from Star Ranch. "There may not be a word of truth in the story. Anyway, I'm not going to believe it until they prove it."
"But what are you talking about, Belle?" questioned Dave, his face still showing his perplexity. "What is it all about? Has anything happened at home? It isn't my father; is it?"
"No, there is nothing wrong at your home, Dave--at least not in the way you think." Belle paused for a moment as if not knowing how to go on. "You remember what Link Merwell said; don't you?"
"Yes. Of course I don't believe it at all. But this young fellow, Ward Porton, sent word to your father, and that has upset him a great deal, so that he sent word to your Uncle Dunston and Laura, as well as to Mr. Wadsworth. The word came in this morning, a couple of hours after you had left; and after talking the matter over, your uncle and Mr. Wadsworth made up their minds to return to Crumville without delay."