best of spirits. Whopper felt so good that presently he bu

want any game we've got to keep quiet," sa

promptly. "And as I'd rather eat

e that connected that body of water with Firefly Lake. The eyes of all were on

he trees yonder," he

s if they might

st rate," answered Snap. "Le

se as possible they b

not knowing what he mi

g and perhaps he isn't," he

he spot where the game had been seen among the trees. High among the branches of a silve

" said the doctor's

" pleaded Giant. "Just to

caution they crept as close as possible to the grouse. The b

their firearms. Shep looked at them a

ouse. Two dropped like lead, while two others flew around in a circle, badly wounded. Then the boys discharged their gun

Giant proudly. "That's

ad," answ

ap in his delight. "Now we can have roast partri

om Shep. "I believe we a

ade home runs!" And at this referenc

rse connecting the two lakes. Here they stopped at a spot well known to them and built a cam

thers on the grouse the lad plastered each bird thickly with some clayey mud, and then placed them in the fir

d from the grouse. With the mud came the feathers of the bird, leavin

otel," said the doctor's son, smacking his lips over

right in the baked mud?" suggested Sn

y it," sai

njoy it as much as the boys. He acted as if he felt perfectly

an outcast," said Shep. "But nobody would abando

s they entered the watercourse connecting the two la

said Snap. "We want to be careful, or the

the shore wasn't so rough and rocky," said Whopper

it appear so? They rowed on with caution, two at the oars and two doing the stee

when they came to a sharp turn in the watercourse. Here

ocks!" sang out

!" yelled Whopper. "It's to

t swung around and hit one of the rocks a sharp blow. There was a little splash as the collie

!" cried Whopper. "

re of himself," crie

oard, but the current was too quick for him, and t

n the rocks, and those left on board had to turn their attention to the craft. T

pull for shore; it's o

w--or we'll all

, and one of the oars was caught and snapped off like a pipe-stem. But then the boat struck water t

s question as soon as they

Whopper. "And here comes the dog," he added a

himself vigorously, acting as if

's voice. He was sprawled out on a

" questioned S

etty soft," answered

m I going to

wade it?" a

--the current is to

ake the boat to h

now

m a line," suggest

hat's a

Shep curled it up as a cowboy does a lasso.

ry it," s

. After Whopper had made his cast Wags, who had been sitting on a rock watching p

ried Snap. "Let the

it?" questio

try him

fast to the collie's collar,

ome!" called the small youth, and

e ventured into the water. Then he began to swim ste

current carries him a

ed the doctor's son. "If he lo

e rock. At last he got within Giant's reach

haul you to shore!" sang out Shep. "Bri

it," answe

sently he announced that he was ready, and the boys on shore commenced to haul in. Down in the madly rushing water went Gia

ture," he said when he h

great hurry," remarked Wh

t did it. It made me

s aw

doctor's son. "And thankful, too, that the boat didn't

rough the rest of this river," remarked Snap. "T

ly what to do. Should they venture on the river again

hink best. My idea is to have two of the crowd take the boat down and the

ts me," s

who take the boat?"

boat--I'm wet already," s

ts as to who shall go with G

ras and guns were taken from the rowboat and also a few other things. Then the doctor'

Shep. "If all goes right you'll g

could do to steer it. But, fortunately, they found no more such bad places as those already e

e come with us after

it will take th

way. Maybe a couple of hours," answered Snap. "We may