They were all sitting in conference, so to speak, about the camp fire, over which Dick was busy broiling fish which he and Art and the boys had just pulled out of the lake. The appetizing odor made the nostrils of the three hungry boys twitch with anticipatory delight.

"Fine," said the big ranger, "that's the way I like to hear you talk."

"Yes," said Mr. Hampton, meditatively, "I've got a very good reason why we should cast in our lot and help you, even supposing Lupo flees and draws us off our course."

"What's that?"

"Well, it's an easy enough one to guess. Lupo evidently is after us. That means that he is being paid by somebody to do us in, or at least thwart us in our search. I want to know who that somebody is. And the only way to find out is to make Lupo prisoner and question him. Moreover, it is possible we may be able to learn something about the mysterious fate of Thorwaldsson and his expedition."

Farnum had been listening closely. He nodded with satisfaction.

"Just what I was thinking myself."

"You're right, Mr. Hampton," said MacDonald. "But such being the case, we'll have to be mighty careful that Lupo doesn't get shot, as then your prospective source of information would vanish."

"True enough, MacDonald," said Mr. Hampton. "We'll all have to be on guard against that misfortune, for misfortune it would be."

He raised his voice, calling the boys and Dick and Art to him. Then he explained how matters stood.

"As soon as we finish breakfast," he said, "we'll start, and you must all be very careful not to shoot Lupo, if it comes to a battle."

As they ate breakfast, Bob who seldom spoke but always to the point, raised a question which had been puzzling him.

"Mr. Hampton, what will we do with all our outfit?" he asked. "And with our radio transmitter, especially? Shall we dismount it? Must we take all our outfit along?"

"It would be too bad to dismount the radio, after our trouble in getting it erected," said Mr. Hampton. "And to take all our outfit with us would be to hamper our movements. On the other hand, we can't very well leave everything here, for some of Lupo's men might slip away from the main body, in fact, they may already have done so, and they would put us in a terrible plight if they raided the camp, in our absence."

There was silence for a minute or two, then MacDonald spoke.

"We can certainly travel faster without your outfit to hold us back," he said, "especially if Lupo tries to run away. For then we could gain on him at the portages, by traveling light. Look here, Mr. Hampton, this island is easily defended. We've been going to the shore to keep watch on the mainland against surprise. But just a little ways through the trees is a little rise, a knoll, from which you can see the waters all around the island. One man alone could keep guard here."

"But one man couldn't keep off an attack in numbers," objected Mr. Hampton.

"I don't know," said MacDonald. "With them high-powered rifles of yours, it might be done. They carry far, farther than any guns Lupo's Indians and breeds will have. Anyway, two men certainly could manage to hold this place against all comers."

"And three," added Farnum, with a significant look at Mr. Hampton, "could do it even better."

The boys again were at the fire some distance away, helping Dick broil more fish. Mr. Hampton looked at them. He understood the significance in Farnum's tone.

"You don't think they would be in danger here?"

"Less than they would be in with us, Mr. Hampton," said Farnum, lowering his voice as the other had done.

Mr. Hampton considered. The proposal hinted by Farnum, namely, that the boys should be left at camp, tempted him. It was most assuredly true that they would be in far less danger than if they accompanied him against Lupo. And that appealed to him, appealed powerfully. He was grateful to Farnum in his thoughts for his solicitude for the boys' welfare.

On the other hand, he knew them for resourceful in an emergency, and good fighters. And since the idea that information might be obtained from Lupo had come to him it had taken firm possession of his thoughts. Lupo must be captured. Would it not be folly to weaken their force by leaving three young huskies, each of whom, moreover, was a fine rifle shot, behind?

Besides, what would the boys say? If necessary, he could command and they would obey. But Mr. Hampton was not one to exercise his authority dictatorially.

"I confess I don't know what to do, Farnum," he said finally.

At that moment, a laughing hail from the boys announced the completion of the second batch of food, and their imminent return.

"Make it a post of honor and danger," whispered Farnum, urgently. "Tell them the radio must be guarded, and the outfit, and that if we take these things along our movements will be so hampered that Lupo might escape. Tell them there is a big possibility, too, that some of Lupo's gang may attempt to raid the camp while we are absent."

The boys were so close at hand that Farnum desisted. Mr. Hampton nodded. As they ate, he broached the subject of leaving a guard in camp.

"Three of us ought to stay behind," he added. "That will give sufficient protection for each other, and provide a sure safeguard against surprise. Also, that leaves five of us to go after Lupo. Four of us can go in that bigger of our canoes easily, without any baggage. It carried three of us, with baggage, so far, MacDonald can go in his kayak. So we can hit a fast pace, and make speed at the portages, if any are necessary."

"Who do you intend to leave behind, Dad?" asked Jack quietly.

Mr. Hampton realized from his son's tone that Jack understood his thoughts.

"Well, you three boys would be the natural ones to be selected," he said.

"Oh, I say," protested Bob.

"That's not fair, Mr. Hampton," cried Frank.

Jack was silent. He knew his father. Close association of the motherless boy with the older man since boyhood had attuned their minds. He understood how troubled his father was over the possibility of running them into danger. And he decided he would not add to his difficulties, but would keep quiet, although inwardly he felt dismayed at the prospect of "missing the fun."

"You see how it is, fellows," said Mr. Hampton, and he proceeded to elaborate on the theme furnished him by Farnum. "It's a post of honor and danger combined."

Bob and Frank, however, were not convinced. They started anew to protest But Jack silenced them.

"All right, fellows, let's be sports," he said. "If the older heads decide they don't need us, we won't force ourselves on them."

"But, Jack," cried Bob and Frank in chorus.

"No, I mean it, fellows," said Jack. "Come over here with me, and I'll tell you something."

Drawing them out of earshot, he added:

"Don't let us make it hard for Dad. He's got troubles enough. He'll feel a lot easier if we aren't along. I know how you feel. I feel the same way about it. But let's make it as easy for Dad as we can. Besides, there is something in what he said, after all. There is no guarantee that some of Lupo's men won't attempt to raid us. For my part, I believe some of them must be watching this island right now, and the minute they see the others safely out of sight, they'll attack us. For they know our numbers, and they will realize the three of us are here alone."

"All right," grumbled Bob. "Have it your own way, let's get some more to eat. I haven't filled up yet."

"This outdoor life makes me ravenous, too," agreed Frank. "And I used to be such a dainty eater. Why, I just pecked at my food."

"You mean you ate food by the peck," said Bob. "For a little guy, you're the heftiest eater I ever saw."

"Little guy, is it?" cried Frank. "I like that."

And without more ado, he made a flying tackle, his arms locking about Bob's knees. The big fellow came down in the brush and Frank piled on top of him with a shout of glee.

"Come on, Jack. We haven't had a good rough-house for a long time."

Grinning, Jack joined in, and the three went rolling and threshing about the bushes like a trio of young bears.

At the fireside, Mr. Hampton's worried look relaxed, and he grinned with enjoyment.

"It's all right, now," he said contentedly. "They'll take their disappointment out in a grand wrestling jamboree. Well, let's pack up a little grub and get ready to go."

Chapter 10 -THE BOYS LEFT BEHIND.

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