are some undesirable characters about the lake."

"That's true."

Not far off was a narrow window, the panes of glass of which had long
since been broken out. Moving toward this, Joe peered into the apartment
beyond.

Close to an old fireplace, in which a few sticks of half-green timber
were burning, sat two men. Both were well dressed, and Joe rightfully
surmised that they were from the city. Each wore a hunting outfit and
had a gun, but neither had any game.

"We came on a wild-goose chase," grumbled one, as he stirred the fire.
"Got nothing but a soaking for our pains."

"Never mind, Malone," returned the other, who was evidently the better
educated of the two. "As we had to make ourselves scarce in the city
this was as good a place to come to as any."

"Don't you think they'll look for us here?"

"Why should they? We were sharp enough not to leave any trail behind--at
least, I was."

"Reckon I was just as sharp, Caven."

"You had to be--otherwise you would have been nabbed." Gaff Caven
chuckled to himself. "We outwitted them nicely, I must say. We deserve
credit."