"Well, he was as anxious to have us go as we were to start off," remarked Bart.
"I know it, but still, I can't help feeling a little anxious."
"Oh, he'll be all right," declared Bart, confidently. "He'll have a good fire ready for us, coffee made, and all we'll have to do will be to clean these ducks and put them to roast."
The boys, in the excitement of the chase, had gone farther into the woods than they had anticipated on starting out. Consequently it was later than they expected when they got to where they saw landmarks that told them they were near camp.
"It's only about half a mile farther now," remarked Bart.
"Give a yell," suggested Ned. "Fenn will hear it and know we are coming."
The three chums united their voices in a loud hallo; and, when the echoes had died away, they listened for an answering cry. None came, and the woods were silent, save for the noises made by birds flitting here and there in the branches of the trees.
"He didn't hear us," said Ned. "Try again."
"Maybe--maybe he isn't there," suggested Frank, in a low voice.
"Of course he is!" declared Ned. "Maybe he's asleep."
"I guess he didn't hear us," suggested Bart. "The wind is blowing the wrong way. Let's yell again."
Once more they shouted, but with no effect. There came no answering hail.
"Come on!" called Frank, increasing his speed. The boys spoke but seldom during the remainder of the tramp to camp. When they came in sight of the tent they strained their eyes for a sight of their chum. He was nowhere to be seen.
"Probably he's inside, lying down," spoke Ned.
It needed but a glance within the canvas shelter, to show that Fenn was not there. In the gathering dusk Frank gave a hasty glance about the locality. The embers of what had been the campfire, were cold. There was no sign that Fenn had been there recently, or that he had made any preparations to receive his chums.
"He must have gone off in the woods and forgotten to come back," suggested Bart. "Maybe he went hunting on his own account."
"If he had, he'd have taken his gun," replied Frank, pointing to where the weapon stood in a corner of the tent.
"Then he's out for a walk," declared Bart.
"He's staying rather late," commented Frank. "I hope--"
Frank did not finish his sentence. Suddenly, he darted forward and picked up something off the ground.