put
on the market at its highest point, brought in a fortune for Joseph
Abercrombie or his heirs!"

"Hurrah!" shouted Will, embracing little Joe in the exuberance of his
joy.

"Talk to me about magic, will you! This thing has the Arabian Nights
beaten all to a frazzle, and that's what I think!" laughed Jerry, pumping
the hand of Joe vigorously.

"My father tried hard to locate his old friend. By degrees he found that
he had gone South, soon after sinking his little savings in what seemed
to have been worthless stock. Then he learned that he had lost his life
on the road, and that his family with but scant means, had moved to Cedar
Keys, where they were still living, according to what information he
could secure."

"It's great, that's what! And to think that we should have run across Joe
here in such a marvelous way!" said Bluff.

"Yes," spoke up the lad quickly, "and I believe you saved my life, too.
I'd been killed by them men, my uncle with the rest; or else I'd tried to
escape, and might 'a' lost myself ashore, to died in the swamps. I'll
never forget it, never!"

After all, that evening was by long odds the happiest of the whole trip.
They sat around the fire until long after midnight. Indeed, it was hard
to get any one to admit that he was sleepy in the least degree.

"Our last camp, fellows. Perhaps we may never be able to all meet under
canvas again," said Jerry as they finally set about seeking their beds.

If Jerry could have lifted the curtain of the future a bit he would never
have ventured that doleful prophecy. There were other camps in store for
the four outdoor chums, many of them, and in a country whither their
longing souls had often turned--the wilderness around the great Rockies.
But it is not our province to mention any of the wonderful adventures
that were fated to befall them there. All those things will be duly set
down in the next volume of this series, which will be called: "The
Outdoor Chums After Big Game; or, Perilous Adventures in the Wilderness."

When breakfast had been dispatched in the morning, for the last time the
four outdoor chums took down the dear old khaki tent and folded it away
reverently. They looked upon it as a friend and comforter indeed.

Then they went aboard the _Jessamine_, and started for the city, which
could be seen upon the key, over the gleaming, sun-kissed water of the
gulf.

They arrived long before noon, and leaving the boat in the hands of the
par