on't give us any more trouble."

"I'm glad to hear you say so," replied Clay. "That's my opinion, too. If
we put about ten miles between us and them we ought to feel safe."

"Better make it twenty," remarked Nugget uneasily. "Then we will be
twice as safe."

"Oh, that won't be necessary," laughed Ned. "I say, fellows, it must
have been a pretty stiff ordeal for Randy to go by that fire, within
sight of the man he peppered with salt."

"Well, I should say so," returned Clay. "When we catch up with him we'll
ask him how he felt."

"But that won't be for some time to come," said Ned, "unless we move a
little faster. Try to keep up with me, and don't lag behind."

He started off with short, quick strokes, and after a brief race the
others settled down abreast of him.

The moon outlined the limits of the creek very distinctly, shining first
from one side, then from the other, as the channel followed its tortuous
course. The water continued deep and fairly swift, and during the next
hour and a half the boys must have paddled no less than six or seven
miles.

Nothing was seen of Randy, but this fact was easily explained, since he
had gained considerable on his companions at the start, and had
moreover a light and easily running canoe.

Presently the sky to the eastward became faintly streaked with gray, and
the close night air was succeeded by a fragrant and delicious breeze.
Dawn came on apace, heralded by the singing of birds, and the splashing
of fish in search of the early insect. The mist began to rise from the
water, and in some distant barnyard hungry cattle lowed.

"There is some compensation in night travel," said Ned. "It will be a
treat to see the sun come up. Two or three miles more and then we'll
hunt a snug camping place, and have a plunge in the creek, and a good
breakfast on top of it, and sleep until afternoon. I don't feel very
tired just now, but I'm ravenously hungry."

"So am I," echoed Clay and Nugget in one breath.

As the daylight advanced the boys paddled on with light hearts. In the
long level stretch that was now ahead of them no sign of Randy was
visible. As the next bend--an unusually sharp one--drew near, a dull,
roaring sound was heard.

"That must be a bit of swift water," observed Ned; "I hope it's long
enough to give us a good spin."

"But won't it be dangerous?" asked Nugget uneasily.

"Of course not," replied Clay. "There couldn't be any danger on a small
stream like this,