"Well, I'm tired enough to stay here and rest," said Sam. "That walking this morning played me out completely." There was not much to do, since Jasper Grinder had brought in sufficient wood to last for a day or two. For an hour Sam rested and watched the former teacher, who had fallen into a doze. Then the youngest Rover set to work to improve the shelter, doing several things which the guide had suggested. The youth was hard at work patching up one side of the improvised hut when he heard a movement in the brushwood not far away. Fearing some wild animal he ran for his gun, but ere he could reach the firearm a voice arrested him. "Stop, Sam Rover, stop!" The voice was that of Dan Baxter, and an instant later the bully came into view, rifle in hand, and followed by Bill Harney. "What do you want here, Baxter?" demanded Sam, as coolly as he could, although the situation by no means pleased him. "Are you alone?" "No." "Who is with you?" "What business is that of yours?" "I'm making it my business." "I reckon he's alone, right enough," put in Bill Harney. "I don't see anybody else around." The big guide rushed forward, and knocking down Sam's gun placed his foot upon it. "Give me my gun!" "Not so fast, my bantam!" cried the guide. "Baxter, reckon ye had better look into the shack and see what's there." The bully did as requested. On seeing Jasper Grinder, he started back. "Grinder!" "Who calls?" asked the wounded man, and opened his eyes. "So it is you, Dan Baxter. What do you want?" "What did you desert us for, Grinder?" "I didn't desert you. I got lost, and they found me, half starved and frozen. Now I am wounded. Are you in possession of this camp? Where are the Rovers?" "Sam is here. I don't know anything about the others. Have they found that treasure yet?" "No. They went off to look for it." Jasper Grinder tried to go on, but fell back exhausted and could say no more. "Here's a queer go!" muttered the former bully of Putnam Hall. "I suppose they shot Grinder. If they did, they ought to suffer for it. I guess--Hullo, what's up out there?" A scuffle outside of the shelter had reached his ears. Bill Harney had been standing close to some firewood, and without warning Sam had rushed at the big guide and sent him sprawling backward. "Hi! stop him!" yelled the guide, as he started to struggle to his feet. But before he could get up, Sam had taken time by the forelock and disappeared into the timber skirting the pond. CHAPTER XXX. A SUCCESSFUL SEARCH--CONCLUSION. When Sam escaped from big Bill Harney he had but one purpose in view, and that was to reach Dick and the others just as soon as possible and acquaint them with the turn affairs had taken. He had a fairly good idea of the direction the others had taken, and knew that their tracks in the snow would be plain to follow. The main thing at the start was to keep out of sight of the enemy.