“Must be Giant,” he told himself.  “What can he want?”

“Help! help me!” came presently, in a fainter voice.

“It is Giant, and he is in trouble!” burst from Shep’s lips, and then, without waiting, he gave a loud whistle, repeated several times.  This was the old signal among the young hunters that assistance was wanted immediately.

Shep broke into a run, or rather a series of hops, for he hopped from one bunch of reeds to another, until he came close to where Giant was struggling in the water and mud.  The small member of the club was now almost up to his chin and trying with might and main to pull himself from the treacherous mass that held him a prisoner.

“What’s the matter, can’t you get out?” asked the doctor’s son.

“N—–­no!” gasped Giant.  “Th—–­the mu—–­mud is li—–­like g-g-glue!”

Much alarmed, Shep looked around for something with which to aid his chum.  Nothing was at hand, but not far off he saw a small sapling growing.  He made towards it, and by a supreme effort pulled the sapling up by the roots.  Then he ran back and threw the top of the little tree towards the unfortunate young hunter.

“Got hold?”

“Yes.”

Shep began to pull, and after a mighty effort succeeded in raising Giant several inches out of the sticky mud.  But try his best, he could not budge the small lad further.

“It’s no go!” he gasped.  “I am going down myself!”

“Do—–­don’t le—–­leave me, Shep!”

“Leave you?  Not much, Giant!  I’ll get you out somehow.  But I’ll have to try some other way.”

While the doctor’s son was looking around for some other means to employ in the rescue, a shout was heard, and Snap came running up, followed by Whopper.

“What’s the matter?”

“How did Giant get in that hole?”

“I don’t know how he got in, but we must get him out,” returned Shep.  “Can you fellows help pull on this tree?

“Wait, here is a small rope,” said Snap.  “I picked it up as I left camp, thinking it might be needed.  We can tie that to the tree end and stand further back.”

The rope was speedily adjusted, and then the three young hunters were able to brace their feet on ground that was fairly firm.

“Now, hold tight, Giant!” sang out Shep.

“I’ll hold as ti—–­tight as I ca—–­can,” was the gasped-out answer, for the small youth was all but exhausted by his struggles.

The others began a steady and strong pull, and inch by inch Giant came up out of the sticky mud.  To make his hold firmer he twined his arms around the slender branches of the sapling.

“He’s coming!” cried Snap.  “Now then, one more haul and we’ll have him out!”

“Or broken in two,” panted Whopper.

The final pull was given, and with a sucking sound and a splash the small member of the club came to the top of the water.  He fell on the sapling and the others dragged him to a spot where it was comparatively safe.  Then he got up and looked at himself ruefully.  He was plastered with mud from his waist down.