hopes to gain something. What is it this time?"

"Not a thing," replied Blacky. "On my honor, not a thing. There is
nothing for me here, though there seems to be plenty for you and
your relatives, to judge by the fact that I find you in this same
place every morning. What is it?"

"Corn," replied Dusky in a low voice, as if afraid some one might
overhear him. "Nice yellow corn."

"Corn" exclaimed Blacky, as if very much astonished. "How does corn
happen to be way over here in the water?"

Dusky shook his head. "Don't ask me, for I can't tell you," said
he. "I haven't the least idea. All I know is that every evening when
we arrive, we find it here. How it gets here, I don't know, and
furthermore I don't care. It is enough for me that it is here."

"I've seen a man over here every afternoon," said Blacky. "I
thought he might be a hunter."

"Did he have a terrible gun?" asked Dusky suspiciously.

"No-o," replied Blacky.

"Then he isn't a hunter," declared Dusky, looking much relieved.

"But perhaps one of these days he will have one and will wait for
you to come in for your dinner," suggested Blacky. "He could hide
behind these bushes, you know."