Together with Bert he examined the place where the bacon had been put. This was in a box, fastened about four feet above the ground, in a tree. It was a sort of cupboard, thus raised, in which to keep stuff that was not protected by tins, so that prowling rats, squirrels or chipmunks could not get in. There was a door to it, fastened with a wire. “Was the door opened when you went to get the bacon?” asked Tom. “Yes,” answered Bert, “and I’m sure it was closed when we went away.” Tom stooped down, and began examining the soft ground at the foot of the tree. As he did so he uttered an exclamation. “What is it?” asked Bert, eagerly. “There’s been some animal here,” declared Tom. “A fox maybe. I can see the footprints, but I’m not enough of a naturalist to tell what made ’em.” “A bear,” suggested Dick. “I don’t believe there are any in these woods, though there may be. It’s wild enough.” “Those aren’t bear tracks,” declared Bert. “I know, for a fellow with a dancing bear once went past our house, and it was just after a rain. I noticed the tracks, and they were as big as a ham. This isn’t a bear.” Tom had arisen and was looking at the door of the cupboard. “The wire fastening has been pulled out of place,” he said. “And look! Here are the marks of sharp claws. The wood is all splintered. Some wild beast took our bacon all right!” CHAPTER XIII A SHOT IN TIME Tom looked around at his chums. From the tent Jack poked his head, having limped from his cot at the sound of Tom’s exclamation. “Do you really think it was some sort of a ‘varmint critter?’” asked Jack. “Sure,” was the answer. “You can see plainly how he tramped around this tree, and, smelling the bacon, just reared up on his hind legs, clawed the door open, and made off with part of our provisions.” “Well, it’s too bad the bacon is gone,” said Bert, “but this may make good hunting for us. I’ve been wanting to get something bigger than a fox.” “It’s lucky the main part of our bacon is still in the original box, with the cover nailed on, or the beast might have gone off with that,” commented Dick. “Yes,” agreed Tom. “We’ll have to be more careful after this, and I guess it will be a good plan to keep the fire going more regularly. Fire is a good thing to scare ’em off.” “But we don’t want to scare ’em off,” said Jack. “I want to get a shot, as soon as my leg gets better. I’ll get a bear, or something, before I go back.” “If they don’t get _you_,” commented Tom grimly. “Well, let’s get supper over with, and then we’ll have a conference on that mysterious paper.” The meal was enjoyed, albeit they ate rather hurriedly, for they were anxious to try to solve the puzzle. The dishes were washed by the simple process of being put to soak in the lake. “I’ll rinse them off with warm water in the morning,” promised Bert. “What’s the use of being so fussy?” asked Tom. “The lake water is clean enough.”