ns to Clay's liking. He stopped, and was
just about turning back, when he saw a dark object passing through a
break in the thicket about thirty feet away.

The shadows were too deep to afford a good glimpse of the animal, but
Clay did not hesitate. Drawing the gun to his shoulder he took quick aim
and fired.

When the smoke cleared the creature had vanished, but from a distance
came a queer grunting noise mingled with the hasty crashing of the
bushes.

"I believe that was a bear," muttered Clay, "and unless I'm greatly
mistaken I put a few shot into his hind quarters."

He stood listening until the sounds had died away, and then retraced his
steps toward the pool, satisfied that no more trouble was to be
apprehended from the unwelcome prowler.

Nugget was still in the tree, and came down very reluctantly, even when
he knew what had happened. Then the boys shouldered their fishing rods
and hurried back to camp, arriving there just as Ned and Randy paddled
up the mouth of the stream.

Clay's adventure--which he related with conscious pride--caused somewhat
of a sensation. Randy and Nugget wanted to break camp at once, and Clay
was more than inclined to side with them.

"Nonsense!" exclaimed Ned. "I don't believe it was a wild animal at all,
and even if it was it would hardly come near here again after being shot
at."

"Then what could it have been?" demanded Clay a little sharply.

"Some stray domestic creature, as likely as not," answered Ned.

Clay did not reply. He was far from unwilling to accept this version of
the affair, though he still had his doubts.

The others were reassured by Ned's words, and when the fruits of the
foraging expedition were taken from the canoes all else was forgotten
but supper.

"Won't we have a feast?" said Randy. "Just see here, fellows. Fresh,
yellow butter, a pail of milk, three pies, two loaves of bread, a cup of
cheese, a picked duck, and potatoes and apples! We had a time to get
them, though--a mile and a half down the creek, and half a mile over the
fields."

It was nearly dark when supper was ready, and the meal was eaten with
such slow enjoyment that nine o'clock arrived before the last of the
dishes were washed and put away. Then the tired boys went to bed, after
securing the tent flaps with more than usual care.

No alarm disturbed their sleep that night. Wednesday dawned clear as a
whistle. Before the sun was fairly up the boys took a plunge in the cool
depths