"I knew you fellows would fall in love with the place," said Randy.
"Just think of spending two or three days here--or maybe a week. There's
nothing to prevent it. Under those shellbark trees is a grand place for
a tent, and here is water enough to float fifty canoes. The bushes
completely hide the entrance, and when we are all fixed snug I'll defy
Bug Batters or any one else to find us in a month. What do you say, Ned?
Do you think it's necessary now to go farther down the creek?"

Ned drew a long breath.

"I think this is the most beautiful spot I ever saw," he replied. "I'll
stay here a week if the rest are willing."

The rest _were_ willing--emphatically so. Clay immediately began to
indulge in visions of trout fishing farther up the stream, which must
have its source in the mountains. Nugget declared it was a good place
to rest, while Randy expressed an opinion that game was plentiful in the
vicinity.

Having waded to the edge of the pool, where the water deepened abruptly,
the boys returned as they had come, and were soon back on the gravel
bar. They were too hungry to go to the trouble of making a fire, so they
breakfasted on damp crackers and dried beef, and found them very
palatable, too.

Then, as the sun had already dried the things, the canoes were loaded
and pushed up the mouth of the stream. The boys took good care to remove
every trace of their presence from the bar, and to deftly rearrange the
screen of bushes after passing through.

The tent was soon staked under the shellbark trees, and the canoes were
carried out beside it. The Jolly Rovers now felt as safe as though they
were fifty miles down the creek. Being pretty well exhausted by the
interruption of the previous night and by their long paddle, they made
pillows out of their blankets, and went to sleep on the grassy floor of
the tent.

But it is not an easy matter to turn day into night, and so the boys
found it. Ned awoke about noon, and threw the flap open so that the sun
could stream into the tent--as much of it at least as came through the
thick foliage. It was sufficient to rouse Randy and Nugget. Clay was
missing, but as his fishing rod had also disappeared, no alarm was felt
over this fact.

Of course, dinner immediately suggested itself, so Ned started to make
the fire, while Randy inspected the supplies to see what was available.

"Damp crackers and cold meat are about all we can count on," he
announced dismally. "There are onl