s Larry beginning to get the hunter's zest, what with the
ozone in the air, and the prospect for happy days ahead.

And when they could eat no more there was still quite a quantity of the
cooked food left over, which Larry stowed away in a couple of pans
against breakfast.

With Tony's help Phil managed to draw the carcass of the deer up some
ten feet from the ground. It looked quite weird swinging there in the
moonlight; but Larry chuckled with pleasure every time his eyes roved
that way.

He had declared the venison was all that he had expected it to be; and
vowed it equaled any ordinary beefsteak he had ever eaten.

"Next time we try it, though," Larry said, "I'm going to fry a mess of
those nice big onions we've got along. Always did have a weakness for
steak with onions."

"Let's talk about something else besides eating," remarked Phil.

"Well, how d'ye like your coffee then, with this evaporated cream in
it?" asked the cook, as he lifted his tin cup, and proceeded to drain
it.

"It's all to the good, and touches the right spot," Phil laughed; and
then added, to get his chum's mind off the subject: "How many more days
journey lie ahead of us, Tony, before we strike the region where the
shingle-makers live?"

The swamp boy seemed to consider.

"If we make good time tomorrow, it ought to be only one more day after
that," he remarked, with convincing positiveness.

"Well, we don't expect to rush things," said Phil; "but since there's
an ugly piece of business ahead, I mean to get it over with as soon as
I can, with reason. One more night, and then we'll come in touch with
your people, eh?"

"If yuh don't change your mind some, an' turn back," replied the other;
with a vein of pleading in his smooth Southern voice that quite touched
Phil.

He knew what influenced the swamp boy; who was fearful lest some harm
befall the new-found friend who had become so dear to him, even though
a span of a day would cover their acquaintance.

"How about our being disturbed tonight by some hungry wildcat that
might scent fresh blood, and think to dine on our fine deer up yonder?"
and Phil nodded his head up toward the swaying bundle--for the game had
been partly skinned, and was now wrapped up in the hide.

"That might be," returned the other, carelessly. "All depends if thar
be a hungry cat aroun'. Hear 'em, and get a shot."

"Oh! my! do you really think such a thing could happen?" exclaimed
Larry, a bit uneasi