t do it," whispered Ham to his crony in alarm. "Remember, they
are five to two."

"I think there is a reward for this boy," answered Carl in an equally
low tone of voice.

"Well, if there is, keep mum and we may be able to get it."

There was an awkward pause. Tommy looked appealingly at the doctor's
son and his other friends.

"Don't you worry; they shan't touch you," said Shep kindly. "They
are big bullies, that's all. We know them thoroughly."

"Are you going to stay here?" asked Ham.

"That is our business," answered Snap. "Where have you located?"

"That is our business."

"So it is; but I want you to understand, once for all, Ham Spink,
that this time you must keep your distance. If you try to molest
us in any way you'll get the worst of it."

"How long are you going to stay?"

"That is our business, too."

"Come on, Ham," said Carl in a low voice. "What is the use of
talking to them at all? Let us get back to our own camp, and let
them take care of themselves."

"All right, if you say so," answered Ham Spink, and turning on his
heel he walked back the way he had come, with his crony beside him.

"Now, what brought those chaps here?" demanded Snap as soon as
their enemies were out of hearing. "No good, I'll wager that."

"Oh, I guess they just wanted to come and say something," said
Giant. "Let us have supper. I'm too hungry to wait any longer."

Supper was had, and the boy hunters and Tommy sat around the camp
fire for two hours, discussing the situation and planning what they
would do for the days to come. It was decided to pay a visit to
the lake for the remainder of the supplies two days later---after
they had hunted and taken pictures and rested up a little.

The two days passed quickly. The boy hunters saw and heard nothing
of the Spink crowd and almost forgot about them. They went out for
game, and managed to bring down some rabbits, squirrels and some
fine quail, and also a pinemarten. They took over a dozen pictures
of the game and also of the scenery, and Shep managed to get a fine
photograph of an old owl as he sat on a tree limb. The boys made
no effort to shoot the owl, for he really seemed friendly and did
not offer to fly away.

It was decided that Tommy and Whopper should remain at the camp
while the other three made the trip to Firefly Lake.

"Take good care of things while we are gone," cautioned the doctor's
son. "Don't let the Spink crowd get the best of