queried the
Chief, in a slightly surprised tone. "All right, guess I was wrong then.
All right, here's one right here." Then he turned to Garry and said:

"He wants to talk to you."

Garry exchanged greetings with the Chief Ranger and heard him say:

"Can't you three take a step without running smack into something
exciting? I declare, you fellows see more and do more than men who have
ranged the woods for these past ten years. Keep it up, and keep out of
trouble. Write me all about this, not an official report, only a
personal letter, to satisfy my own curiosity. Best of luck to the
others. Goodbye. I had to leave the theatre to answer this call, and I
am anxious to get back to my seat."

Garry hung up the receiver, and then turned and asked the Chief if he
was satisfied.

"Indeed I am, and I wish you boys all the luck in the world in your new
station," said the Chief. The three boys then took their leave. They
returned immediately to Canal Street to see if they were still in time
to buy a rifle for Phil from the old gunsmith.

They arrived at the shop just in time to find him locking the door. He
recognized them immediately, and had no hesitancy in opening up his
store again. Phil soon found a rifle to his liking, and Garry replaced
the compass that he had dropped when he was lost in the woods;
ammunition was also procured, and then Garry purchased a small automatic
revolver, deciding that this would be a wise project in view of the kind
of work that they might be called upon to do in running down the band
of smugglers.

"Now," said Garry, "I wonder if there is anything more that we will
need?"

"Yes," said Dick, "I think we should procure new, heavy pocket knives. I
have broken the big blade of mine, and you remember that Phil's was
taken away from him by LeBlanc and Anderson that time that they left him
tied to the tree in the forest."

"That is a wise suggestion," remarked Garry, as he turned to the old man
and asked to see something in combination knives.

"Here is something that I frequently sell, both to campers and
woodsmen," said the old gunsmith. "You see it has one heavy blade,
suitable for skinning a small animal, and in addition has a heavy
canopener."

The knives met all requirements, so each boy procured one. The last
thing bought was an ample supply of batteries for their flashlights.

"There," said Garry, "I think that completes everything we have to buy
except a supply of food. We can