"That is where you lose," Prescott answered quietly. "You'll be hungry, too, Tom, when the food goes on the table." However, neither Reade nor Danny Grin ate very heartily that evening. Every few moments the haunting face rose before their memories. It proved a dull evening, too, in camp. The sky became overcast. It looked so much like rain that Dick & Co. voted in favor of retiring early. First of all, however, the canoe was hauled into the tent for safety. Then, with only one lantern burning dimly, six sturdy but wondering high school boys rolled themselves in their blankets. Just as five of them were dozing off uneasily Dave Darrin's voice sounded quietly: "That thing couldn't have been a joke rigged up on us, could it?" "A joke?" rumbled Reade. "No, sir! That face was real enough to suit the most particular individual. No, sir; that face wasn't a joke, nor did the face look as though the man to whom it belonged had ever heard a joke in all his life." "Suppose you fellows shut up until the sun is shining again," proposed Danny Grin, who had been fidgeting restlessly in his blanket. "That's right," agreed Dick blandly. "All ghost stories ought to be told in the broad daylight." "Just the same-----" Tom began. "Shut up---_please_!" came a chorus of protest. All was quiet after that. Hours must have passed. All the boys were sleeping at least fairly well when air and earth shook with a mighty explosion. Instantly six bewildered high school boys leaped to their feet in alarm. CHAPTER X POWDER MILLS, OR JUST WHAT? "If that's a thunderstorm," muttered Greg Holmes, barely half awake, "then it's going to be a dandy!" But Dick seized him by one arm and shook him. "Come to your senses, Greg! That wasn't thunder." "No; but what was it?" wondered Dave. "I'm going to dress and find out," rejoined Dick sturdily. He sat on the edge of his canvas cot and began to pull on his clothing. BANG! All were awake enough now to appreciate fully the force of this second jarring explosion. "I wonder if there are any powder works off in this wilderness?" asked Danny Grin. But Dick, who had now dressed as fully as he intended to do, save for the lacing of his shoes, now came back from the doorway of the tent with the lantern, the wick of which he was turning up. "No powder mills in this part of the world," he declared. "But, gracious! The explosion seemed big enough." Tom Reade stepped over to Prescott, whispering in the latter's ear: "What if this is another chapter in the lake mystery that we struck this afternoon?" "That's possible," nodded Dick. "What are you two fellows whispering about?" called Hazelton. "We're using whispers in case there's anyone else near enough to hear speaking voices," Prescott explained in a low tone. That was enough to fan the curiosity of the others, who, partially dressed, crowded about Prescott and Reade. Leaving the lantern in the tent, Dick & Co. gathered in the darkness in the open air.