Out with Gun and Camera | Page 6

Snap's
comment.
"We can do that, too---sometimes."
After that the doctor's son gave his chums more details of what his
parent had said. All the boys were sure they could go out again, for
their return home from their previous trip had not been expected by
their parents.
"Were you thinking we might meet Ham Spink and his crowd?" asked
Giant during a short lull in the talk.
"Yes," answered Shep. "And if we do, they'll sure try to make trouble
for us."
"I am not afraid of them," said Snap. "If they don't keep their distance
we'll-----"
"Give 'em as good as they send," finished Whopper. "But great Caesar's
tombstone! just think of going camping again!" And in his joy the
youth turned a handspring on the grass. As he arose Giant threw an
apple core that took him in the ear. Then Whopper threw a core in
return, hitting Shep. A general fusillade of cores followed, and the lads
ended by chasing each other around the orchard. Then they trooped
back to the rowboat.
"Shall we go and talk to your father?" asked Snap on the way back.
"I think he'd like it if you would," answered the doctor's son. "I'll see if
he is disengaged."

Dr. Reed was busy with a lady caller and the boys had to wait a quarter
of an hour. Then he came into the sitting-room and shook hands
warmly.
"So you are willing to undertake the commission to get pictures, eh?"
he said after a few words. "Well, I am glad of it, for I know you can do
it if you'll try. The outing ought to just suit you."
"It certainly will," answered Snap.
"I'll get the cameras at once and likewise the other things. Let me see,
what cameras have you now?"
The boys told him, and he made some notes in a book. A general talk
followed, and the physician told the lads just what he would like best to
have. He cautioned them to keep quiet concerning the land company's
projects.
"We want to spring this on the general public as a surprise," he
explained. "If we don't keep it quiet some other folks may try to get
ahead of us. To my mind our section of the Windy Mountains is an
ideal one for city sportsmen, being wild and yet not too wild, and
having some charming spots for camping."
"And hunting and fishing ought to be good," added Whopper. "I've
heard Jed Sanborn say so." Jed Sanborn was an old hunter who knew
every foot of territory for miles around the river and its lakes.
"I suppose we can take along the same general outfit we had before,"
remarked Whopper.
"I will get you a new and larger tent," answered the doctor, "and a few
other things I think you ought to have." Can you go to Rallings
to-morrow?"
"Rallings?" asked several.
"Yes. I will pay your way. I want you to go to visit Mr. Jally, the

photographer. He is the one to give you a few lessons in photography."
The boys could all go, and it was decided to visit Railings early in the
morning. The physician said he would give his son a letter of
instructions for the photographer.
"It would be a good thing if you could stay overnight," said Dr. Reed.
"Then you could have two days instructions instead of one. You could
stay at my sister's house."
"That would be jolly!" cried Shep. He loved his aunt and knew she
would make him and his chums welcome.
"I guess I can stay---anyway, I'll find out," answered Snap; and Giant
and Whopper said the same.
Little did any of the boys dream of what strange happenings that visit
to Railings was to bring forth.
CHAPTER III
A LESSON IN PHOTOGRAPHY
By consulting a time-table the boys found that a train for Railings left
at ten minutes after eight in the morning. The distance to the city was
thirty-three miles and the run on the country railroad took the best part
of an hour and a quarter.
Snap, Whopper and Giant were on hand ten minutes before train time.
They found the doctor's son ahead of them, and he had tickets for all.
"Well, how did you make out at home?" was the question asked by
several, and then it was learned that all had had an easy time of it
persuading their parents to let them go on the proposed outing to the
Windy Mountains.
"My folks told me to beware of ghosts," said Snap with a grin.

"We needn't beware if the ghost turns out to be like that other,"
answered Giant.
"My folks told me to keep out of trouble especially with Ham Spink's
crowd," said Whopper.
"Say, fellows, I reckon you