“We should not forget,” he said, “that we’re in the heart of the Dark and Bloody Ground, afar from the nearest settlement. What seems so peaceful and serene to the naked eye may hide a thousand deadly dangers. Though the pizen redskin may not be near, through these trackless wilds prowl innumerable ferocious beasts that—” “Wake up,” cried Crane. “Turn over; yeou’re on yeour back.” “Let’s get busy,” suggested Stone. “There’ll be plenty of time to look around tomorrow, and we’ve got to hustle to pitch that tent and get supper before dark.” “Sure,” agreed Grant. “Everybody get busy. Come on.” CHAPTER II. MAKING CAMP. Carl, the German boy, was dozing again upon the wagon-seat. When they awoke him he grumbled a little, but they did not ask him to assist in unloading, knowing that he would simply be in the way. It required only a few minutes to remove the boxes, bales and bundles, which were piled together promiscuously. “Is there a spring near by, Carl?” asked Grant. “Vot does a spring vant uf you?” returned the German lad in surprise. “We must have water to drink.” “Vater? Goot cracious! Didt you oxpect to up drink der whole lake right avay soon?” “Not exactly, but we weren’t right sure it was suitable for drinking purposes. It’s all right, is it?” “Vale, it vas vet, undt uf you drink it I don’t peliefe it vill disagreement by you. Howefer, uf it didt not like you, there vas a spring in der voods pack somevhere. I could not say how near it vas avay.” “Well,” laughed Rod, “although that’s plenty indefinite, I reckon we can find it. You’ll come early in the morning with the butter, eggs and milk, will you?” “Yah, der putter, eggs undt milks vill pring me early,” assured Carl. “And then you are to hike to Pemstock and tote our canoe in to us.” “‘Hike’ and ‘tote’ didt not understood me,” replied Carl; “but I vill go undt dot canoe get tomorrow as soon as possibility.” “That’s what I mean,” said Grant. As the German boy gathered up the reins to back the wagon round, Piper stepped forward and checked him with an uplifted hand. “Stay,” said Sleuth. “Pause a moment. Would you inform us if there are any dangerous wild beasts in this virgin forest? Are there likely to be animals prowling about against whose attack we should keep a nocturnal vigil?” “Vot vas dot, a dog?” asked Carl wonderingly. “Didt you mean vas you to keep a dog to out vatch for vild animals? I didt not observation dot you had a dog aroundt anyvhere. Maype, howefer, you have vun your pocket in.” Sleuth shook his head sadly. “It’s evident,” he returned, “that you are not wise to the delicate shadings of the English language. By a nocturnal vigil I mean a night watch.” “Oh, yah,” nodded Carl. “Now I understooded it. You haf a night vatch your pocket in, in order dot der time can see you ven it iss dark. I peliefe maype it vas a goot kindt uf a vatch to have.”