ed that he had the only boat.

"If they wanted to hunt for me they couldn't do it. To move about in this
swamp without a boat would be impossible; that is, for a stranger; and
the launch could never come here. Guess I'll shoot up a few and get my
points."

So saying, he banged away three times.

Presently there was an answering series of shots, but very far distant.

"Whew! I didn't dream I'd gone so far," he said, and having noted the
direction from which the sounds seemed to come, he started to paddle
hard.

After half an hour's work he halted, tired, and perspiring freely.

"This is no fun, I tell you. Wonder if I'm anywhere near? I might try
again."

This time there was no answer. The wind possibly kept those in camp from
hearing the fusilade. Will began to grow alarmed. It was now high noon,
and he felt hungry, so he disposed of the lunch he had carried, at
Bluff's suggestion. Incidentally, he blessed his chum for thinking of
such a thing.

After that he paddled some more, until he grew very tired.

"This begins to look some serious. What if I have to spend a night here?
Gee! I won't like that much, I guess. Hello! What's that over yonder?
Seems to me it might be some sort of a shack, made of palmetto leaves.
Wonder who lives there? Ugh! What if it turns out to be that desperado
the sheriff is hunting--Bob?"

The idea oppressed him, and he felt like paddling away; but his case was
desperate, and he determined to creep up and try to ascertain just who
lived in the primitive-looking native shack.

So, finding a chance to land on the little island among the dark waters
of the lagoon, he started to advance cautiously in the direction of the
dwelling, which was really the first Will had seen made of leaves.

In spite of his fears, the fever of picture-taking was so strong in his
breast that he had to stop once and level his camera at the picturesque
shack. Then the familiar click announced that he had secured what he
wanted.

Perhaps that sound may have reached other ears, and been misconstrued to
mean something else. Will might have realized this much could he have
seen the dark figure creeping up on him, and lying flat on his stomach
most of the time.

As the boy reached the lonely shack he was about to put out his hand in
an endeavor to draw aside some of the dry leaves so that he might peep
within, when, without warning, a heavy form fell upon him, flattening him
out on the sand.

CHAPTER I