THE FIRST DAY OF THE OUTING

As my old readers know, the distance to Lake Cameron in an air line was about ten miles, but the river was a winding one and this added three miles to the journey.  Beyond the town the banks of the stream were lined with farms, orchards and patches of dense woods, a beautiful outlook and one which the boys thoroughly enjoyed as they rowed along.  They passed Simon Lundy’s farm—–­where they had once had such a curious happening when after apples, as related in “Four Boy Hunters,” and then continued along under the overhanging branches of some willows, where it was shady and cool.

“Do you think Jack Voss spoke the truth when he said he was going to Lake Narsac?” queried Shep, after he had turned his oars over to Snap.

“It may be true—–­although Jack knows how to blow,” answered Snap.

“If he goes out it will most likely be with Ham and Carl and that crowd,” put in Whopper.  “They always travel together.”

“I’d like to know how Ham and Carl feel this morning, cried Giant.

“Most likely pasty,” answered the doctor’s son, and this made the others laugh.

“If that crowd should take it into their heads to go to Lake Narsac I hope they don’t camp near us,” went on Snap, after a pause.

“They’ll try to bother us all they can, you can rest assured, of that,” said Whopper.  “They seem to live for nothing else.”

“Well, we can give them as good as they send, can’t we?” asked Giant.  “I’m not afraid of ’em.”

“Of course we’re not afraid of them,” returned Whopper hastily.

To reach Lake Cameron the young hunters had to take to a side stream lined on either side with blackberry and elderberry bushes.  They resolved to push on to the lake before stopping for lunch.  Then they would row to the head of the lake, camp there over night, and the next day strike out for Firefly Lake.  Here they would put in another day, and then embark for Lake Narsac.

They found Lake Cameron and its shores just as beautiful as during the previous summer.  To be sure, the portion that had been burnt down during the great forest fire looked black and desolate but only a small portion of this territory was to be seen from the boat.  They passed along the shore opposite and put in at a little cove that looked particularly inviting.

“I’m as hungry as a bear!” cried Whopper.  “I can eat about a hundred sandwiches, ten pieces of pie, and any other old thing that happens to be handy.”

“Jed Sanborn was telling me he had seen some wild ducks up here last week,” said the doctor’s son.  “If they are around we must keep our eyes peeled for them.  They are pretty scarce.”

All of the boys wanted coffee, and so some wood was gathered and a campfire started, over which they made the beverage.  Snap and Whopper prepared the midday meal and while they did this Giant and the doctor’s son got their rods, cast in their lines, and tried their luck at fishing.