made rapid progress when once they had caught the stroke. Sim

l good start of us," remarked the farmer

fore long, if he sticks to the

ad brung a

s comment. "And that reminds me," he added to his c

pistols," came from Whopper. "Maybe he will try to

groaned Simon Lundy. "I--I don

d Giant. "We can pretend that

on the smooth-flowing river. About a mile was covered,

e's gone now," he added, as the craft shot b

hen the boat again came into full view and they could see that it was their

is!" was

pull!" call

chanced to look back and saw them. He was evidently chagrined, and with

Shep. "Stop,

o reach the river bank. He sent the rowboat in among the bushes w

mon Lundy. Give m

egro, and showed a big horse-pistol. "If y

farmer, and fell f

ew not what to do. In that space of time the negr

t ye sure!" said Simon Lund

ne," annou

hings safe?" aske

other. All made a hasty examination and found everything intact. Even the

he'd get time later to go through our belongings." An

d he did not want to follow the negro, since th

ur boys went on a hunt, leaving the cowardly farmer to watch the two boats. The boys went deep

rd now and keep out of

t show himself ag

le you are at it, Whop

u think he w

may see hi

Simon Lundy had hidden himself behind some bushes. He came

g to chew you up," answered Wh

n Lundy. "Sa-say, hadn'

ore," said Snap, who was disgusted with the cowar

be I a-goi

k," answered Snap, shortly

etle,

hep, and leaped into the rowbo

culated Pop Lundy, in fresh alarm. "

the spot as best he could, fearful, evidently, that the

nt, when Simon Lundy was out of hearing.

fit and die

they were soon on their way, Shep and Giant taking the o

our outing is starting

it is goi

apple. "We'll strike several weeks of rain, and not get a shot at anything larg

as cheerful as a funeral. We are going to have nothing but sunshine, and

p. "You have gotten in

nd it wo

f a time. We are going to strike an old lodge in the wood--some an

next to the school," broke in Shep. "Say, cut out the fairy tales and get

rom Whopper. "I knew I was getting hollow somewh

from Snap. "Our time

't got t

Shep. "Our family once went there for a picnic. There's a good

in the irrepressible Whopper. "I do love a picnic ground wh

e-root sticking out of the river bank. Beyond was a cleared space and a semi-circle of stones with a pole in two notched

l have our sandwiches, cake and some hot coffee. It will be different wh

put in Whopper. "Just wait ti

ns away from," said Shep

oy their first meal in the open. The adventures of the morning had given them all

thing for supper and for breakfast, you know. Aft

of an hour, then arose, cleaned up th

cried Shep. "May we reach th