supreme effort pulled the
sapling up by the roots. Then he ran back and threw the top of the
little tree towards the unfortunate young hunter.

"Got hold?"

"Yes."

Shep began to pull, and after a mighty effort succeeded in raising
Giant several inches out of the sticky mud. But try his best, he
could not budge the small lad further.

"It's no go!" he gasped. "I am going down myself!"

"Do---don't le---leave me, Shep!"

"Leave you? Not much, Giant! I'll get you out somehow. But I'll
have to try some other way."

While the doctor's son was looking around for some other means to
employ in the rescue, a shout was heard, and Snap came running up,
followed by Whopper.

"What's the matter?"

"How did Giant get in that hole?"

"I don't know how he got in, but we must get him out," returned
Shep. "Can you fellows help pull on this tree?

"Wait, here is a small rope," said Snap. "I picked it up as I left
camp, thinking it might be needed. We can tie that to the tree end
and stand further back."

The rope was speedily adjusted, and then the three young hunters
were able to brace their feet on ground that was fairly firm.

"Now, hold tight, Giant!" sang out Shep.

"I'll hold as ti---tight as I ca---can," was the gasped-out answer,
for the small youth was all but exhausted by his struggles.

The others began a steady and strong pull, and inch by inch Giant
came up out of the sticky mud. To make his hold firmer he twined his
arms around the slender branches of the sapling.

"He's coming!" cried Snap. "Now then, one more haul and we'll have
him out!"

"Or broken in two," panted Whopper.

The final pull was given, and with a sucking sound and a splash the
small member of the club came to the top of the water. He fell on
the sapling and the others dragged him to a spot where it was
comparatively safe. Then he got up and looked at himself ruefully.
He was plastered with mud from his waist down.

"Never mind---be thankful that you're out," said Shep.

"I---I am thankful," was Giant's answer. "Bu---but I don't want any
o---of S. Hooper's mud. He ca---can have it all himself!" And this
was said so dolefully that all the others had to roar.

When they got back to the camp Giant told how he had chanced to get
into the mud. He was thankful that Shep had come along just in the
nick of time, and thankful that the others had come also. Luckily
he had a change of garments with him, and he lost no ti