nd
hamlet; and there was no use tempting such rascals more than seemed
necessary.

Accordingly, when the afternoon drew near its end, they began to cast
about for a camping place. To the delight of Nick they had been able
to pick up a duck here and there, until there were now four on board.

"If we could only get a brace more," he kept saying; "or even one might
do, as Josh eats so little; how nice it would be. Jack, don't you
suppose, now, you might creep up behind that island yonder, drop
ashore, since the law forbids one to shoot ducks from a craft driven by
sails or any motive power except a fellow's muscles, and get a shot
into the lovely little bunch that is sporting there?"

"Anything to oblige," was the response;

and with that the head of the _Tramp_ was turned aside, so that the
skipper could presently jump ashore.

His crawl across the reedy island was not as pleasant as one might
wish; but when he fired both barrels at the rising flock, Nick nearly
laughed himself sick to see not only two, but five birds fall with as
many splashes into the water.

One wounded duck managed to get away. Jack declared it must have
dived, and held on to some of the eel grass at the bottom, preferring
death to falling into the hands of duck-eating human beings; for this
often happens, as every hunter knows.

Again an oven was to be made, and they hoped to have a feast for the
next day.

"What's to hinder our sleeping on shore tonight, fellows?" asked Josh,
as they found a pretty good place for a camp.

"Oh! please do!" cried poor, tortured Nick; "I'd love to rest comfy for
just once again."

"Huh!" grunted stubborn George, "that suits me first rate, because I
insist on keeping to my quarters aboard, and there'll be plenty of
room. Besides, I won't wake up every little while when you roll over,
thinking the boat is going to turn turtle."

Upon being put to a vote, five of them were in favor of trying it. So
about the time they began to feel sleepy, blankets were brought from
the boats, and each fellow started to make himself as comfortable as
possible under the circumstances.

Jack had selected his sleeping place with an eye to its convenience;
also the fact that by raising himself on his elbow he could have a
survey of the entire camp, counting the three boats. And it might have
been noticed that both he and Herb made sure to take their guns to bed
with them, a fact Nick saw with a bit of uneasiness.

The