than the lake to-day, anyway."

"Hope Snap and Giant wait for us at the mouth of the river," said
Whopper. "I don't want to tramp along the lake shore afoot."

"Oh, they'll wait, and mostly likely start a camp."

"Say, if I remember rightly the river makes a bend to the right here,"
went on Whopper after a pause. "And if that is so, what's the
matter with our striking inland a short distance and cutting off
some of the walk?"

"I'm willing---anything to reach Firefly Lake before it gets too
dark to see."

Having rested themselves, the boys commenced to draw away from the
river shore, taking to the woods, where the walking was easier. It
was now close to six o'clock, and the sun was going down over the
trees to the westward.

"Hope they have supper ready by the time we get there," said Whopper
after a period of silence. "This transit is making me as hungry as
a bear."

"Same here. Well, we'll have the partridge to fall back on, even if
they don't cook anything else."

The two young hunters tramped on. As they walked they kept their
eyes open for a possible sight of game. So far all they had seen
were some birds, not worth shooting.