streak
of good luck. He counted the promised safe return of those precious
films as a glorious thing.

"Why shouldn't I feel that way?" he expostulated, when Bluff took him
to task for referring to the matter so frequently. "Think of our great
trip up into the Maine wilderness and the many strange things we saw
there," he went on, referring to matters already related in "The
Outdoor Chums in the Big Woods." "My pictures took a prize, remember;
and besides they recall the happy days we spent up there last fall."

"Will is right," declared Frank; "and I'm almost as glad as he is over
the recovery of his property; because I know he's got some sort of
scheme in his mind to enlarge some of those same pictures. It couldn't
easily be done with the negatives lost."

"Before we shake the dust of this section from our feet," continued
the ardent photographer, "I mean to explore every rod of territory
around here."

"Looking for new and interesting sights, of course?" quizzed Bluff.

"Yes, because you never do know at what minute you may run smack up
against the most wonderful picture going," pursued Will. "That's one
reason I'm so keen about traveling over new ground. There's always a
chance ahead of you."

"Well, right here we're bounded on one hand by the big water, which
cuts off about half your chances," suggested Jerry.

"Some time or other you might go to the lake shore village," said
Bluff; "because if I'm any judge of things you'd find some remarkable
characters there to snap off."

"You've already got pictures of old Aaron and his hermit shell; one of
the latter being a cracking good snap of the house. How did the other
view turn out, Will?"

Again that quick look of intelligence passed between Frank and Will.
They were still of the opinion that for the present there was no
necessity for the other boys to know about the strange white face in
the barred window of the hermit's lonely home.

"Oh! it doesn't seem to be quite as clear as the one you saw," Will
explained. "The sunlight didn't strike as well, and there are too many
shadows. Some time or other when I think of it I'll take off a lighter
print, which may improve the looks of the thing."

Not having the least suspicion there could be anything singular
connected with that second view of the hermit's house, Bluff did not
pursue the subject any further.

Of course Will had his flashlight working again. In roaming around he
had found traces of a sly fox