ent's entrance. Then they cut
firewood and soon had a generous blaze started and put the kettle
on to boil.

"And are we going to stay here for a while, and just hunt and fish
and---and rest?" asked the boy from the circus.

"Yes," answered Shep. "Don't you like it?"

"Like it! I think it's the---the best ever! Couldn't be better!"
was the hearty reply.

"I think it will make you fat and strong, Tommy, and that's what you
need."

"And another thing," answered the boy. "Those circus people can't
find me out here."

"It's not likely."

Everybody was glad that a permanent camp had been reached at last,
and that night all slept "like rocks," to use Giant's way of
expressing it. They left Wags on guard, but this was unnecessary,
for nothing came to disturb them.

The next day was spent in perfecting the camp and in taking care of
what remained of the fish and of the venison. The skins were nailed
up in the sun to dry. The boys were sorry they could not keep all
of the meat, but this was impossible, as they had no ice and no
means of smoking or pickling it.

"Here comes somebody!" cried Whopper, while they sat around waiting
for supper, which Snap and Tommy were preparing. Two boys were
approaching, and as they came closer the young hunters recognized
Ham Spink and his close crony, Carl Dudder.

CHAPTER XVI

A VISIT FROM THE ENEMY

"Wonder what they want?" whispered Shep as the newcomers drew closer.

"Perhaps they have only come out of idle curiosity," returned Snap.

"Well, in that case, they had better stay away," grumbled Giant.

Ham Spink and Carl Dudder came up slowly. To tell the truth, they
were a bit afraid, thinking the others might jump on them and
begin a fight, because of what had happened at the Fairview dock.

"Hello!" said Ham presently. He did not know how else to start
a conversation.

"Hello yourself!" responded the doctor's son shortly.

"Going to camp out here, eh?" went on the dudish youth.

"Oh, no; we've opened an oyster house," returned Whopper, who was
bound to have his fun.

"Humph! Frank Dawson, you needn't get funny!"

"Was I funny? I didn't see you laugh."

"You know what I mean."

"Expect to do some big hunting, I suppose?" said Carl Dudder with a
bit of a sneer in his tones.

"We generally do pretty well when we are out," responded Snap.

"Following us up, eh?"

"Not at all."

"Yes, you are. You knew we were coming here."

"And you k