ace of grim despair.

Tony knew just how to go about it. Phil, seeing his lead, started to
also throw all sorts of loose leaves and wood upon the surface of the
mud.

So fast did they work that in a short time they had a fine covering
close up to Larry himself. Thus each of them could get on one side of
him, and then heave all together.

"Pull for all you're worth when we give the word," said Phil, as he
took a good hold under Larry's left arm, while Tony attended to his
right. "Now, all together, yo heave-o! Bully! you moved then, old
fellow! Now, once again, yo heave-o! That time you came up two
inches, I bet. Don't let him sink back, Tony. A third time now, all
in a bunch!"

And so by degrees Larry began to ascend. The further he drew out, the
easier the job seemed; until finally they dragged him ashore.

"Oh, my goodness, wasn't that a tight squeeze though!" gasped Larry,
sinking on the ground in almost a state of complete collapse.

Phil saw that he was nearly all in, and so instead of scolding him on
account of his carelessness, he started in to make humorous remarks,
just to get his chum's mind off the terrible nature of his recent
adventure.

With sticks they scraped him off, for he was a sorry sight, the black
mud clinging to his fine corduroy hunting trousers as far up as his
waist. But after all, that was a mighty small matter. His life had
been spared, and Larry would not mind having his garments carry the
signs of his narrow escape ever afterwards.

"Now to get back to the boat," said Phil, when he found that his
comrade had so far recovered that he could walk; though his hands still
trembled.

"But wait," said Larry, eagerly. "You surely won't think of going back
without that fine turkey over there, will you? It gave me heaps of
trouble, and came near costing me dear. The best revenge I can have is
to make a meal or two from the plagued old gobbler that tricked me on
all this way."

"Oh! Tony's got the royal bird, all right," laughed Phil. "While I
finished scraping you off, so you wouldn't have such a load to carry
with you, he completed the little bridge of leaves and trash, crossed
on it as you should have done in the beginning, and came back. Here's
your gobbler; and quite a hefty bird, too. Just lift him once, will
you, Larry? And to think that he's your game! But Larry, own up now,
did you see him when you fired?"

"I refuse to commit myself," replied the other, wit