Four Boy Hunters | Page 3

not be inferred that Frank could not tell
the truth, for, when it came to the pinch the lad was as truthful as
anybody. His "whoppers" were always so big that everybody
recognized them as such instantly.
Will Caslette, always called Billy or Giant, was the son of a French
widow lady who had come to Fairview on the death of her husband,
seven years before. The widow had just enough to live on comfortably,
and she took a great pride in her offspring, even though he was so small
in stature. But though Billy was small he was "all there," as the other

boys said, and promised to become a man, every inch of him.
Arriving at the orchard, the four boys walked to one of the best of the
apple trees and with a stick brought down a dozen of the finest apples.
Then they selected a warm spot in the sunshine, threw themselves on
the sward, and began to eat and discuss their plans at the same time.
"It's a regular windfall for us that the old schoolhouse is going to be
shut up next Wednesday," said Snap. "Just think of two months of
loafing."
"Bless the storm that ripped off part of the roof," came from Shep.
"And bless the fact that they can't get it mended right away," was Will's
comment. "I don't believe they'll open again until after the holidays."
"Of course they won't," said Whopper. "They can't do it. They've got to
put on a new roof, mend the water pipes, reset the steps, paint the place,
and do sixteen hundred and one things."
"The best thing we can do is to make all arrangements for going on our
tour bright and early Monday morning," went on Snap. "We will have
from now on to get ready in. That will be plenty of time."
"Humph! I could get ready in an hour," murmured Whopper. "What's
there to do anyway? Pick up our guns, pack up some grub, take along a
tent and some fishing tackle, and there you are. Easy as sliding off a
banana peel."
"Is it?" came from Snap. "That's all you know about it. In the first place,
you must remember that this is no outing for a day or two, or even a
week. We have got to take supplies for at least a month, if not two
months. And I don't want to live in a tent when it gets good and cold.
We've got to build a shack of some sort. There will be a hundred and
one things to do before we are ready to start. And it is going to cost
something, too."
"How much?" asked Giant, anxiously. "Please don't make the amount

too high, or I won't be able to stand for my share."
"We'll figure it out," said Snap, producing a note-book and a pencil. "I
suppose when it comes to such things as flour, sugar, salt, coffee and
the like, we can get them from our homes. But there are other things
that we will have to buy. For instance, we will need plenty of powder
and shot, and we'll want to take medicines and plasters along, in case of
accidents-----"
"I can get those from my father," interrupted Shep. "He has an
emergency case that will be just the thing."
"How about-----" began Giant, when he stopped short, to gaze at a man
who was running down the road at top speed. "Hullo, Mr. Harrison!" he
called. "Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"Goin' to the fire!" was the puffed-out answer.
"Fire?" ejaculated all of the boys, leaping to their feet. "Where?"
"Down the river. Reckon it's the Barnaby mill," and the man went on
his way.
The boys gazed down the river and saw a thick volume of smoke
rolling skyward. Men and boys were running toward it from every
direction.
"It's the mill, as sure as fate!" cried Snap. "Come on, I'm going to the
fire, fellows!" And away he started.
"Isn't that the mill in which your father owns an interest?" asked
Whopper.
"Yes; he owns a third share," answered Snap.

CHAPTER II

THE FIRE AT THE SAW MILL
It was indeed the Barnaby place that was going up in flames, and
already the fire had gained much headway. The place was composed of
the saw mill proper and half a dozen sheds used for the storage of cut
lumber. The plant was valued at thirty thousand dollars, so if it was
swept away the loss would be a heavy one.
The mill was a good half mile from the orchard, but the boys were all
good runners and covered the distance in a few minutes, Shep and Snap
arriving there first and little Giant bringing up the