strous greenback frog to
where the others were still working.

"I'll show you how to cut off the saddle, and skin the hind legs," said
Rob.

Tubby did not altogether like this job. The slimy feeling of the frog
rather went against his stomach. Still, after the large hind legs had
been duly skinned, they presented so much the appearance of the white
meat of a spring chicken that Tubby felt encouraged enough to set forth
again.

He had four victims by the time Rob and Merritt pronounced the bow and
arrow part of the business in readiness for work.

They kept at it steadily for an hour and more. Rob found considerable
excitement and profit in his archery. His arrows could not be wholly
depended on, for they were not properly balanced; but the distance was
so short that he made numerous fatal shots.

Merritt, too, had secured another long pole, and joined Tubby in his
share of the frog hunt. It was exciting enough, and with more or less
delicious little thrills connected with it. No doubt the frogs must
have enjoyed it immensely; but then, no one bothered asking what they
thought of such tactics. A boy's hunger _must_ be allayed, and, if there
were only frogs handy, why so much the worse for the "hoppers."

"Whew! Don't you think we've got enough, Rob?" asked Tubby, unable to
stand it any longer.

"What's the score?" asked the archer, as he tossed still another great
big victim toward the spot where the fat scout had been counting the
pile.

"Twenty-one, all told," replied Tubby. "That would mean seven for each.
But how in the world can we cook them? I hope now you don't mean to
tackle them raw? I love raw oysters, but I'd draw the line at frogs. I'm
no cannibal."

"Well, let's find a place deeper in the woods, where we can make a fire
out of selected dry wood that will make so little smoke it can't be
noticed. That's an old Indian trick, you know. Hunters used to practice
it away back in the time of Daniel Boone and Simon Kenton. When they
were in a hostile country they had to be mighty careful about making a
smoke. I've tried it before, and believe I can pick out the right kind
of fuel to use."

While the others were finishing the not very pleasant work of skinning
the numerous frog saddles, Rob busied himself with making the fire in a
secluded neck of the woods. In the midst of jutting stones he soon had a
blaze going. It could not be seen twenty feet away, on account of the
obstructions; and, as the proper