"What's doing?" he asked, eagerly searching with his eyes the ground near
Frank.

"Bend lower, for the sign is rather faint. What d'ye make of that, and
that? Is it the paw of a bobcat?" asked the one on his knees, with an
expressive smile.

"Great Jehosaphat! No! Then it was a panther, after all!" cried Jerry.

"I think I'm safe in saying yes to that question," replied Frank.

"And now don't you wish you'd shot him?"

"Well, yes, if I had been positive, which I couldn't be, under the
circumstances, you see. Perhaps I may be lucky enough to run across one
of the breed again when there can be no uncertainty, for I would like
very much to say I'd knocked over a panther," was the reply Frank made.

"Say! Shall we cook breakfast again on the shore?" called Will from on
board the boat.

"We might as well. There will be plenty of occasions when we'll just have
to do it aboard, and this fire seems cheerful like," replied Jerry.

Frank agreeing with him, they carried the necessary utensils ashore, and
preparations were begun looking toward the getting of a bounteous meal.

"Wonder how our good friend, Black George, feels this morning? Hello!
We're going to have visitors, I see. Look what's coming down the river,
boys!"