Part 15 (1/2)

”Thad, can't we look up that one I shot now; I'd just hate to lose hied Step Hen

”Why, I suppose it would be safe for all of us to go out,” returned the patrol leader ”Here, pick up so”

They found Thad's victie of the light froed so piteously to be allowed to extend the search ”just a little further,” that Thad did not have the heart to say no And a one forward twice as far as Thad had at first intended, Step Hen gave a gurgling cry

”Looky there, Thad, what's that thing lying over yonder? Seehty like a dead one Yes, sir, that's what it is, as sure as I'ham Oh! how terrible he looks, even when stretched out there, and gone up the flue _My_ wolf, too What a fine coat he's got, and as gray as they make 'em Say, won't I just cut a shen I wear that out in a sleigh with Sue Baker; and every time she rubs the sleeve she'll say: 'And just to think that _you_ shot this savage old wolf all by yourself, Step Hen; oh! what a brave fellow you are!'”

It was a second dead wolf, sure enough The little repeating rifle had, as usual, given a good account of itself, and the stricken beast had only been able to drag hi up

Both anied over to the fires, and then Eli set to work taking off the skins with a rapidity that told of long experience along the trapping line

”No use aluggin' these critters over ter the canoe, and then ter camp,”

Eli had announced ”Ther two skins'll ut a pack o' priood My mouth's jes' made up fur a steak; an' the boys'll feel tickled ter death when they sees yer”

Step Hen was a little nervous at leaving the fire zone, especially since Eli and Thad insisted on putting out every spark before departing, according to the law of the State; but then he ed to carry one torch, and with that to serve them, they took up their line of e of the lake Thad laughed, and said the joke was on him; because, when they halted he really believed they were a couple of miles away from water If he had known the shore was so near by he would have e on just a little further, so as to ca thatto the home camp by means of the code which he and Allan, as Boy Scouts, understood

But it was all right now, and Step Hen felt quitetaken comfortably to the ca, and the teary lads just snuggled down in the boat, feeling that they had had a great day of it, all told The presence of the venison, as well as the wolf-skins, would be positive proof as to the reliability of their astonishi+ng story; should there be any skeptic around And then Thad had the wonderful ed buck; so that as they narrated the first adventure that had come their way, they could produce evidence to back up the story

Their coh the boys had evidently been coached by Allan not to be too vociferous, as they were in a country where tihten away the quarry they had coot all his weariness as he found hiain, while he and Thad told the tale of their day's outing It was nice to play the hero part once in a while, and more than ever did Step Hen feel that life had beco than ever, since he joined the Cranford troop of Boy Scouts But for that he would never have discovered what splendid things there were to be reat forests; and the spirit of the hunter and the fisherht never have been awakened

And while the hour was rather late, all of the boys insisted on tasting a sht in by the two successful Nimrods

CHAPTER XV

THE FOX FARMER

”Say, this is the greatest venison I ever tasted!” declared buhed to think that the rules of the ga a second piece; because they had had a bumper supper only a few hours before

”Just dandy!” added Giraffe, as in the salad for an invitation to ”cut, and coain”

”Oh!” exclairatulate you, Giraffe”

”Me? Er, what d'ye inning to look a trifle confused

”Why, you know you told us we'd be _surprised_ e got back,”

the other went on to say, a little one and done it at last; and now you're ready to show us just how easy it works”

bu a sarcastic chuckle, which of course added to the evident embarrassment of Giraffe; who, however assu his reply

”Well,--er--not exactly, Step Hen I've got her figgered out all right, in o ahead, and work out the details I calculate a short half hour ought to see lory But just yet it's a toss-up who the ice-crea to be on, bu even a little mite,” asserted the confident bumpus