had anything to eat this morning, Tony?"

When he learned that their guest was really hungry, Larry immediately
started to get something going. He drew out a little square black tin
box; this, on being opened disclosed a brass contrivance which turned
out to be a German Jewel kerosene gas stove. This was quickly started,
and began a cheery song, as though inviting a kettle to accept of its
genial warmth.

Evidently the swamp boy had never in all his life seen anything like
this, to judge from the way he gazed. Nor had he ever scented coffee
that had the aroma such as was soon filling the air about them; for he
could not help sniffing eagerly every little while, to the secret
amusement of Larry.

All this while the boat had been speeding down the narrow but deep
stream. Phil could look after the wheel and the engine at the same
time; though as a rule he depended on his chum to stand in the bow, and
warn him of any floating log or snag, such as might play the mischief
with the cedar sheathing of the modern motor boat.

When Larry announced that lunch was ready Phil slowed down, and
presently came alongside the bank, at a place where a cable could be
warped around a convenient tree. For, since they were in no particular
hurry, they did not feel that it was necessary to keep on the move
while eating.

Larry had heated up a mess of Boston baked beans. Besides this they
had some soda biscuits which had been purchased from a woman in the
town; some cheese; and a can of sardines; the whole to be topped off
with a dish of prunes, cooked on the preceding evening, and only partly
eaten.

When Tony received his share he ate ravenously. Perhaps the boy had
seldom tasted such a fine variety of food, for the canned stuffs likely
to reach these squatters of the big cypress swamps were apt to be of
the cheapest variety.

They were sitting thus as the lunch drew near its conclusion when, in
addressing his chum in some laughing way, Larry happened to mention his
name in full.

The effect upon Tony was singular. He started as though he had been
shot, and immediately stared at Phil; while a troubled look came over
his sallow face; just as though he had recognized a name that was being
held up to derision and execration down in the settlement of the McGee
squatters!

CHAPTER III

THE SQUATTERS

A short time later, and once more Larry loosened the rope that held the
motor boat to the bank; so that the swift curr