Four Boy Hunters | Page 6

few vegetables, some fresh and
others canned. For cooking purposes they had a "nest" of pots and pans,
of the lightest ware obtainable, and for eating carried tin plates and tin
cups, and also knives, forks and spoons.
Each boy wanted to take along his shotgun, and in addition they took a
rifle belonging to Mr. Dodge and a pistol loaned to them by Dr. Reed.
Each youth also carried a serviceable pocket-knife and a waterproof
match-safe.
"I think we've got about all we need now," said Snap, after looking at
the collection. "Now all we want is those rubber blankets and the
flannel ones, and then we shall be about ready to start."
"Will the rowboat hold the load?" questioned Whopper. "It seems to me
there is about two thousand times too much stuff."
"The boat has got to hold it," came from Giant. "But what I am thinking
of is, what a job we'll have carrying the load after we leave the boat."
"Well, if it's too heavy we can make two trips instead of one," said
Shep, and so it was agreed.

CHAPTER III
DOWN THE RIVER
When Snap awoke on Sunday morning, he was very much discouraged,
for the sky was overcast, and by church-time it was raining steadily.

"This will make it beastly for a start," he grumbled, while on his way to
church in the family carriage.
"Never mind," answered his father. "You can start Tuesday as well as
Monday."
"I'd rather start on time," answered the impatient boy. His mind was so
taken up by the proposed outing he could scarcely bring himself to
listen to the sermon; and what was true of Snap was also largely true of
the others.
By nightfall the rain cleared away, and when Snap went to bed the
moon was shining brightly. The boy could hardly go to sleep, and when
he slumbered, dreamed of being in camp, with wolves and bears and
deer on all sides of him. Then he dreamed that it began to hail, louder
and louder, and he awoke to hear some pebbles being thrown against
the window-pane. He sprang up, rushed to the window and saw Giant
standing in the yard, fully ready for a start.
"Hullo, you! How long are you going to snooze?" demanded the small
youth. "I've been ready for an hour. Don't you know that this is the
all-important day?"
"I do!" cried Snap. "What time is it?"
"Half-past six. I wanted to start by six."
"We're to start at eight o'clock," answered Snap, and hurried into his
clothing with all possible speed.
By seven o'clock all of the boys had had a good breakfast and then they
bid their folks good-by and hurried down to the river. It was a glorious
morning, as clear as crystal after the rain, and with just the faintest
breeze blowing.
The stores had been packed away on Saturday in a boathouse nearby,
and it was an easy matter to transfer them to the rowboat. The craft was
rather crowded with goods and boys, but the lads made the best of it.

Only two could use the oars, so they took turns at rowing, Snap and
Whopper taking the blades at first, with Giant in the bow and Shep in
the stern, steering.
Nearly everybody in the town had heard about the outing, and many
came to see them off.
"They'll be back in a week," said one big boy, with a laugh. "Just wait
till they catch a rainy spell."
"You're only mad because you can't go along, Ham Spink!" cried Snap.
"Bah! I wouldn't go with you!" retorted Ham Spink. "When I go out I'll
do it in first-class style and with an A1 guide. No little two-cent trip for
me."
Hamilton Spink was the son of a very aristocratic man who had come
to Fairview a year before. Ham, as all the boys called him, was very
much of a dude and always thought himself superior to the regular
town boys. He smoked cigarettes and played pool and golf and rode
horseback, and did as much "showing off" as he possibly could. As a
consequence the majority of the boys detested him.
"This isn't a two-cent trip!" cried Shep. "I don't thank you to call it
such."
"I'll call it what I please," muttered the dudish youth.
"Oh, dry off and keep cool!" came from Whopper, and he allowed his
oar to slip on purpose, sending a shower of water over the youth on the
dock.
"Hi! hi! stop!" came angrily, as Ham backed away. "How dare you do
such a thing!" and the dudish boy got out a silk handkerchief and began
to wipe the water from his face and high collar.
"Excuse me," answered Whopper, drily. "I beg