ck until a
couple of hours had gone," and while saying this Phil looked wise,
which fact struck his chum as particularly exasperating, seeing that he
was so consumed with curiosity.

"Then do take pity on me, and tell me right away what you think," said
Larry; "because I can see in your face that you've guessed something."

"Well, of course you've heard Tony try to convince me lots of times
that it would be foolish in our stopping off to see his father?" Phil
said to begin with.

"Yes, I have," replied Larry, promptly. "First of all he wanted us to
turn back. Then, when he saw that you just wouldn't, he asked why not
keep right on past his place."

"Just so," remarked Phil. "And I've got a notion right now that Tony
is holding us back so that we will just have to do some traveling after
dark tonight. Perhaps he'll find some excuse for it, by saying there
is no decent stopping place. And in that way the boy may hope to coax
us past the dangerous point where the squatters have their settlement."

"But you won't consent, Phil; I just know you too well to believe it,"
cried Larry.

"Well, not so you can see it," came the positive reply. "When I
embarked on this cruise I knew just what I was up against. I
understood that McGee was feeling bitter against my dad; but I believe
the message I'm carrying him will knock all his animosity to flinders.
And not even Tony must upset my plans."

The time crept on. An hour had passed since Tony went away. They had
heard several distant shots in quick succession, and Larry was filled
with hope that his craving for "quail on toast" might be finally made
an accomplished fact; though just where the latter article was to come
from might have puzzled any one, since their last scrap of bread had
long since vanished from mortal view.

Another hour seemed almost exhausted, and Larry began to grow uneasy.

"He's got your new gun along, Phil," he remarked.

"That's so," smiled the other, who did not seem one whit disturbed by
the non-appearance of the swamp boy; "but don't you believe that cuts
any figure in his keeping away. I've been studying Tony right along,
ever since we met him first; and I'd stake a heap on his fidelity. He
has come to care for us, too. I could see that by the way he watches
us, and the light in his eyes at times. But there he comes right now,
Larry; and he's holding up some game you like right well."

"It's quail all right, and a fine bunch of the