't know
they were coming up here."

"Ham said something about going hunting," answered Whopper. "Don't
you know how he stuck up his nose at our way of going out?"

"Yes, I remember. But I don't see that their camp looks any better
than ours does," went on Snap. "See, they have a fancy striped tent.
That looks well, but it can't be very warm."

"They have one of those patent cook stoves, Snap. They don't use the
camp-fire to cook by."

"Well, I'd just as soon use the regular fire."

"See, they have a wash-stand and a regular looking-glass," went on
Whopper. "Nothing like being in style, is there?"

During their conversation the two boys had allowed their craft
to float close to shore. Now one of the lads in the camp saw
the boat and leaped up in alarm.

"Somebody is coming, fellows!" he called out.

"Oh, it's only Snap Dodge and Whopper Dawson," drawled Ham Spink,
lighting a fresh cigarette. "What do you want?" he asked, abruptly.

"Nothing," answered Snap, coldly.

"Then why did you come over?"

"We wanted to find out who was camping here, that's all."

"Humph! You are over there, ain't you?" went on Spink.

"Yes."

"Had any luck hunting?"

"A little."

"Just wait till we get down to business. We are going to bring down
everything in sight," went on Ham Spink. He could hardly talk
without "blowing his own horn," as some of the boys put it.

"Were you out for something this afternoon?" asked Whopper, curiously.

"What business is that of yours?" asked one of the other boys.

"None at all."

"Yes, we were out. We got two fine wild turkeys," answered Ham Spink.
"To-morrow we are going after some deer we saw early this morning."

"Maybe you won't get them, Ham," said Snap.

"Why not, I'd like to know?"

"We got three of them this afternoon."

"Three deer!" came from nearly all of the rival hunters.

"Yes."

"Oh, that's a fairy-tale," came from Ham Spink. "You can't make me
believe it."

"It is true," said Whopper. "Jed Sanborn was along. He took two
of the deer to town, and we have the other at our camp."

"Humph! Think you are some pumpkins, I suppose," sneered Ham Spink.
"Well, let me tell you one thing: Don't you dare to interfere with
our hunting after this."

"We have as much right to hunt here as you have."

"We saw those deer first and it was our right to shoot them."

"Then why didn't you shoot?"

"Next time we will," said one of the other boys.

"How long