As the boys walked home they discussed the situation from several
points of view. Reaching the street leading to the railroad depot
they came in sight of a familiar figure ahead of them. It was
the old hunter, Jed Sanborn, and he carried a gun in one hand and a
fishing rod in the other, while a basket was slung over his shoulder
by a broad strap.

"Hello, Jed!" sang out Snap, and ran forward to stop the man.

"Why, boys, how are ye!" said the old hunter, turning around and
halting. "Ready to go on your summer trip?" And he smiled broadly.

"Not yet," answered Shep. "But we are going out after the Fourth
of July."

"So I heard. Well, I hope ye have as good a time as ye had last
summer an' last winter."

"We want to know something about Lake Narsac," came from Whopper.
"I've heard there were about a million snakes up there and all big
fellows, too. Is that true?"

"O' course it is," answered Jed Sanborn, with a grin. "Snakes
is twenty to fifty feet long, and so thick ye have to wade through
'em up to your knees. Ha ha!" and he commenced to laugh. "I got
ahead of ye thet time, didn't I, Whopper?"

"But tell us the truth," insisted Giant. "We're thinking of camping
up there, and, of course, we won't want to go if there is any real