dded in open-mouthed wonder.

"I'm Jerry Brenton," admitted the elder.

"And Hamp Foster is my name," added his companion, "but I never saw you
before."

"Of course you didn't," declared Brick. "Do you fellows remember Tom
Fordham, the chap from New York that spent a vacation here two summers
ago, and had such jolly times with both of you?"

A light broke on the boys.

"We remember Tom," they exclaimed, with enthusiasm.

"And did you ever hear him talk of his best chum, Brick Larkins?"

"Often," replied Hamp. "But you ain't----"

"Yes, I am, too. I'm Brick Larkins, and I'm awfully glad to meet you
fellows. The way I come to be here is this: Tom and I entered Columbia
College last fall, and a couple of weeks ago I got into a scrape and
was dropped for a term. I wasn't going to spend the time on a lot of
musty books, so I concluded I'd come up to Maine, and go deer hunting.
My folks are in Europe, and a lawyer down in New York is my guardian as
far as money matters go. I'm my own master in other ways, and I've got
cash enough to see me through for a while. I understand from Tom that
the father of one of you chaps is a guide. I want him to take me into
the woods for a few weeks. I'm willing to pay his price, whatever it
is."

"I'm the one," replied Jerry, soberly; "but my father is laid up with
rheumatism, and won't be able to make any trips this winter."

"I'm awfully sorry," said Brick. "Perhaps I can get another guide. Look
here, are you fellows in any trouble? You both look pretty downhearted,
if you'll pardon me for saying so."

The boys were reluctant to speak, but Brick finally compelled them to
admit that they were in serious trouble, and that they had come to the
dug-out that evening to have a quiet talk over the matter.

Two months before Hamp's father had been drowned by the foundering of
his lumber barge in a storm. What little money he left was soon spent,
and now Hamp had just been thrown out of employment by the closing of
the mills in which he worked. Unless he speedily found a new place, his
mother and sister would be in actual want.

Jerry was confronted by an equally dismal prospect. He could get no work
to do, and money was sorely needed for his sick father. His mother had
formerly earned a little by sewing, but her time was now required for
the invalid.

Brick pondered the situation for a little while. He could see that the
boys were proud, and that it would never do to offer money. At