later on one of the boys
can come for you with a horse," was Jerry's cheerful remark.

"Oh, I'd hate to put you to any additional trouble, so I'll try my best
to limp along," replied Will, who, of course, was only shamming, in that
he was not half so tired as he tried to make out.

So they turned their faces toward the home camp, and started trudging
along, now and then calling to one another as something caught their
fancy.

Will had had little opportunity to make use of his picture-taking
machine this trip. His stock of films was beginning to run low, and only
special subjects must claim his attention from now on. Besides, he had
several views of the great woods, and the light was so poor under the
trees that it required a time exposure to bring out the details.

"I think it's a mean shame none of you fellows think enough of me to get
up some sort of excitement, in order to let me snap you off," he was
saying as he tramped along.

"Tell me about that, will you! The chap really thinks that it's our duty
to do all sorts of remarkable stunts, in order that he may have the
pleasure of snapping us off in ridiculous positions!"

"Hear! hear! That was the finest speech I ever knew Jerry to put up. As
a rule, he leaves the heavy talk to me, and is satisfied to just grunt
out his ideas. But look here, Frank, I believe you were right," said
Bluff, stopping to elevate his nose in a significant fashion.

"Oh! dear me! Do you smell smoke, too?" demanded Will.

"Why, so do I, now that you mention it. And say! just cast your eyes
back of us, fellows! Don't it seem as though there was more or less
smoke in the woods over yonder?" asked Jerry.

The four boys now showed sudden animation.

"Hark to the wind, too! It's beginning to make a sound up there in the
tree-tops. Which way is it coming, Frank?" asked Will.

Frank's face began to assume a serious look. The wind was fairly growing
stronger with every passing minute. If the woods should be afire, this
would whip the flames furiously, and send them speeding along at a
dangerous pace.

"It begins to look bad for us, boys," he remarked.

"What! Do you really mean it, or are you just trying to play a joke?"

"You know me better than that, Will. There is certainly a brush fire
back there. Some camper has left his fire, and the rising wind has
carried it into the dead leaves," said Frank soberly, surveying his
surroundings.

"Could we push forward and put it out before