“They have evidently been having a chicken dinner,” murmured Harry. “Wonder why they didn’t go out and shoot some game?” “Maybe they are no sportsmen,” returned Jack. “It is very seldom that tramps are. And, besides, if they would steal our traps, they wouldn’t hesitate to carry off some farmer’s chickens.” “There doesn’t seem to be any one around,” went on Harry, after a pause, in which all of the party surveyed the situation as closely as possible. “Perhaps they have gone off on a hunt. Hullo!” Jack went on, in a loud voice. No answer came back, and no one appeared in sight, so, without further hesitation, the five boys walked boldly into the camp and began to inspect it. As has been said, their sled stood upon the outside of the lean-to. Inside were their traps, nothing missing but a plate or two and one of the pots. “Thank fortune we have recovered our stuff!” exclaimed Jack. “Had it been otherwise, our tour would have come to a most inglorious end.” “These fellows have blankets and cooking utensils of their own,” remarked Harry. “Now, what could possess them to steal our stuff?” “They expected to cart it off and sell it, most likely,” replied Andy. “Those blankets would bring ten or twelve dollars at least, and the other articles several dollars more.” “Shall we wait here till they come back?” asked Boxy. “Certainly we’ll wait,” returned Jack. “We’ll give them a piece of our mind if nothing else.” “Dar is only t’ree of dem,” said Pickles. “An’ we is five ag’in dem.” “Besides, we’ll lay for them and take them by surprise,” added Harry. “Ah! there are our rabbits and squirrels tied up in a tree.” And he started at once to cut down the game. “That proves they must have had those chickens before they struck our camp,” said Andy. “I wonder how soon they will be back.” “Here come four men on horseback!” suddenly cried Harry, with a glance down the valley. “Four men!” cried Jack. “Sure enough! They can’t be the fellows that belong to this place.” “Maybe they do.” “But there are only outfits for three here.” “They may have found a companion,” suggested Boxy. “And what of the horses?” questioned Jack. “If they would steal our stuff, they would steal horses, too,” returned Harry. “Perhaps they are a regular set of backwoods outlaws.” “We’ll be on our guard!” cried Boxy. “Those fellows have discovered us, and are riding for this place just as fast as they can.” Boxy was right. The four horsemen had been proceeding somewhat slowly, but now they started on a gallop, the foremost pointing with extended arm toward the lean-to. “I don’t like the looks of that crowd,” said Harry, as they drew closer. “Every one of them has a shotgun over his saddle.” “See! see! they are aiming at us!” cried Andy. “They evidently imagine we are going to run away!” “Hold on, you fellows!” roared the leading horseman, as he drew within hearing distance. “Don’t you dare to stir unless you want to get a dose of buckshot into you!”