y
can't shoot fer sour apples."

"And they'll blame their ill luck on you, when they get home,"
said Whopper.

"More'n likely. But I don't care fer thet. Folks in these parts
know what Jack Dalton kin do. Jest you ask Jed Sanborn about it."

"Yes, Sanborn has spoken about you," answered Snap. "He said you
had brought down some of the biggest deer and bears in these parts."

"Exactly so, boy, although I don't want to blow about it. Tootin'
yer own horn ain't perlite. But I ain't afraid o' what sech a
feller as Andy Felps says."

That night Jack Dalton told them the story of a bear hunt, which
was more than ordinarily interesting. He said that bears were
by no means plentiful in the lake region and yet there were a few
around, some of pretty fair size.

"You'll run across one when ye least expect it," said the old
hunter. "When that happens, take your time an' shoot to kill. If
ye don't, Mr. Bear may come up an' hug you to death, jess fer the
fun o' it."

"I am going to set a bear trap," said one of the boys, and told
of the plan, which was approved by Jack Dalton.

Before leaving the next morning the old hunter told them where he
thought they could bring down a mink or two, and after his departure
they set off, to see what luck they might have.

The weather was now getting colder and there was a promise of snow
in the air. Yet about ten o'clock the sun broke through the clouds
and then it grew a bit warmer.

"A little snow will make hunting very fine," declared Snap, as they
trudged along. "As it is now, it is next to impossible to track
any big game."

The spot Jack Dalton had mentioned was nearly two miles from their
camp, along a rocky watercourse flowing into a small lake between
Lake Cameron and Firefly Lake. Here, among the rocks, was a favorite
haunt of the mountain brook mink, as they are popularly called.

As they neared the locality, the young hunters looked to their
weapons and then advanced with caution. The water, gurgling over
the rocks, drowned the sounds of their advance, and so they came
upon the mink without being discovered.

Two of the animals were in sight, one on either side of the small
stream. As all wanted the honor of bringing down the mink, Shep
and Snap fired at one and Whopper and Giant at the other. The
aim of the boy hunters was true, and the game dropped down where
they stood.

"Fine mink these," declared Snap, after an examination. "Just look
at the he