“Never mind—–­be thankful that you’re out,” said Shep.

“I—–­I am thankful,” was Giant’s answer.  “Bu—–­but I don’t want any o—–­of S. Hooper’s mud.  He ca—–­can have it all himself!” And this was said so dolefully that all the others had to roar.

When they got back to the camp Giant told how he had chanced to get into the mud.  He was thankful that Shep had come along just in the nick of time, and thankful that the others had come also.  Luckily he had a change of garments with him, and he lost no time, when he was rested, in putting on clean clothes and in washing out those which were soiled.

“After this I am going to be careful where I walk,” he said, while he was eating his breakfast.

“It puts me in mind of the time you and I got in the snow hole, last winter,” said Whopper, referring to an incident related in detail in “Guns and Snowshoes.”

“Yes, and I was just as lucky to get out,” answered Giant.

After an hour’s rest, and a good breakfast, Giant declared himself as strong as ever.  The tent was packed, and soon the young hunters were on their way from Hooper’s Pond.

“I hope we don’t make any more false turns,” observed Snap, as they rowed and poled their way along.  “I am getting a bit anxious to see Lake Narsac.”

So were the others, and that noon they allowed themselves only half an hour for lunch.  During that time some of the boys went fishing in the stream and were lucky enough to catch some trout and several suckers.  Once Whopper got a strong pull, but it only proved to be a mud turtle, much to his disgust.

“Thought I had a ten-pound fish,” he said.

The middle of the afternoon found them on a clear, deep stream, which broadened out constantly as they advanced.  This made them certain that they were nearing Lake Narsac, and they were correspondingly elated.  At one point in the stream they came to a beautiful island, with elderberry bushes lining the shore and a patch of trees in the center.  As they drew closer they saw several rabbits and squirrels, but did not get a chance to shoot the game.

“If we run short of food we can come here,” observed Snap.  “That game can’t get away from the island.”

“Shall we stop off now?” asked Whopper.  “We’ll be sure to get something.”

“No! no!  Let us go on!” cried Giant.  “We want to make Lake Narsac by to-night, if we can possibly do it.”

The others agreed with Giant, and they kept on until the long shadows over the mountain to the westward told them that night was again approaching.

“Looks as if we’d have to camp in the woods along this river,” said the doctor’s son.

“Oh, let us keep on until it is really dark,” replied Giant.

“I’d like to see Lake Narsac, I must confess,” answered Snap.  “But even if we get there inside of the next hour we won’t be able to see much.”