often had a failing for shirking some duty like this. It was so easy to
expect some other to do disagreeable things; though as a rule the boys
were accustomed to saying, "let Davy do it," until it had become so
tiresome that the Jones boy had rebelled, and refused to be the errand
boy any longer for the entire patrol.

In half ah hour silence again brooded over the camp. Bumpus must have
done something to make sure he did not start walking in his sleep again,
for nothing occurred to disturb their slumbers until dawn came along
and, with birds singing, as well as gray squirrels barking lustily at
the intruders, awakened them all.

Breakfast was hurried, because all of them were' anxious to be on the
move. They knew that by following the shore of the big water several
miles they would come to the point where there was a village, with
something of a landing place in a sheltered nook; and here they expected
to find their boat awaiting them.

It was about an hour after sun-up that the cheery notes of Bumpus'
silver-toned bugle gave the signal for the start; and the six khaki-clad
lads could be seen moving at a fairly fast pace along the shore of the
lake. Step Hen had managed to bundle the captive owl in a spare
sweater, so he could carry him all right without danger.

The little waves came purling up close to their feet, and seemed to
welcome the strangers to their domain; but Thad knew full well that
under different conditions these same waves would unite to threaten them
with destruction.

Step Hen having found a way to muzzle the owl, so that he could carry