It was no easy matter to find wood dry enough to burn, but once a blaze was started they found branches enough to pile on.  They shed the majority of their garments, and soon the warmth dried each piece, much to their satisfaction and comfort.

Whopper had not been idle, and he soon had a pot of hot coffee, to which they added some condensed milk and water-soaked sugar.  They also got some fish from the lake, and the entire morning was devoted to “drying out” and getting a substantial meal.

“One comfort,” remarked Shep, “we’ll not want for firewood while we are here.”

“I shouldn’t be surprised if we can pick up quite some dead birds and small animals,” said Snap.  “You generally can after such a storm as this.”

After a good meal they felt somewhat better and took a survey of the situation.  Then they brought out their stores and set them to dry on some stones in front of the camp-fire.  A few articles had been rendered valueless and these they threw away.  Late in the afternoon Shep and Giant went fishing, while Snap and Whopper walked for a short distance into the woods.

“We can’t go very far,” said Snap.  “It is too wet in the shade.”

“I see one bird already,” said his companion, and picked up a fine woodpecker.  A thrush and two other birds they could not place followed, and then they ran across a fallen tree under which lay two squirrels.

“This is hunting of a new kind,” said Whopper.  “Poor chaps!” he went on, looking at the squirrels.  “I suppose that storm ripped your home completely to pieces!”

“Wait!  I see a good shot!” cried Snap, a few minutes later, and raising his gun took careful aim.  The report of the fowling-piece was followed by a wild fluttering and then two partridges dropped down, each seriously wounded.  The boys dashed forward, caught the game and quickly put them out of their misery.

“There, we have done enough for to-day,” said Snap, but Whopper blazed away, nevertheless, and brought down a rabbit that chanced to be limping across a clearing, having had a paw broken by the storm.

With their game in their bags, the boys started back for the lake front.  They were almost to the camping spot when a wild cry of alarm rent the air.

“Help!” came in Giant’s voice.

“Let go!  Let go!” came from Shep, an instant later.

“I can’t!  I can’t!” answered the smallest of the young hunters.

“Something is wrong!” cried Snap, and dashed for the shore, followed by his companion.  When they came to the clearing they found Shep standing up in the rowboat, gesticulating wildly.  Giant was in the water and moving at a fairly rapid pace toward the centre of Firefly Lake!

“What does this mean?” questioned Snap.

“He got some kind of a bite and the fish hauled him overboard,” answered Shep.

“Why don’t you let the fish go?” screamed Whopper.