of the boys were up early, and they were eager to take up the many
plans they had laid out for the day. Breakfast was the first thing on
the calendar; and while it was being prepared and dispatched the
tongues of that half score of boys ran on like the water over the
wheel of the old mill, with a constant clatter.

There was no necessity for all of them to remain at home to work on
the new bunks, so Paul picked out several to assist him in that work.
The others were at liberty to carry out such scout activities as most
appealed to their fancy. Some planned to go off with the woodsman to
see how he managed with his steel traps, by means of which, during the
winter, he expected to lay by quite a good-sized bundle of valuable
fur. Then there was wood to chop, pictures to be taken, favorable
places to be found for setting the camera during a coming night so as
to get a flashlight view of a fox or a mink in the act of stealing the
bait, as well as numerous other pleasant duties and diversions, all of
which had been eagerly planned for the preceding night as the boys sat
before the crackling fire.

CHAPTER XVII

"TIP-UPS" FOR PICKEREL

Tom Betts came up from the frozen creek.

"I don't believe that little snow ought to keep us from trying the
scheme we laid out between us, Jack," he said, looking entreatingly at
the other.

"Why, no, there wasn't enough to hurt the skating," replied the other,
readily, much to Tom's evident satisfaction.

"Bully for you, Jack!" he exclaimed. "There was more or less wind
blowing at the time, and the snow was pretty dry, so it blew off the
ice. We can easily make the lake in an hour I reckon, with daylight to
help us. Besides, we know the way by this time, you see."

"All right!" called out Frank, who had been detailed to assist Paul in
the making of the extra bunks out of some spare boards that lay near
by, having been brought into the woods for some purpose, though never
used.

"Remember, you two fishermen," warned Paul, "we'll all have our mouths
set for pickerel to-night, so don't dare disappoint us, or there will
be a riot in the camp."

"We've just got to get those fish, Jack," said Tom, with mock
solemnity, "even if we have to go in ourselves after them. Our lives
wouldn't be worth a pinch of salt in this crowd if they had to go
pickerelless to-night."

"Oh! that'll do! Be off with you!" roared Jud Elderkin, making out to
throw a frying-pan at Tom's head.

When a