s over there?"

"Oh, no. Just a lean-to which serves as a shelter, if people want to
spend the night and be on hand for early morning fishing. Sometimes,
too, I have gone over in the late afternoon and fished until dark,
afterward turning in on the pine boughs for the night. It is only a
crude little camp, but it is perfectly comfortable. You will like Owl
Lake. It is smaller than this one, but it has a very pretty shore
bordered with a stretch of white sandy beach."

"It must be a great place for swimming."

"It is. Just now, however, the water is too cold. Later in the season
when things get warmed up it is the finest bathing place
imaginable. Are you ready for breakfast now?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then you'd better run along. I will join you in a few moments. I must
go first and see Manuel about the lunch."

"All right, sir."

Through the crisp morning air Theo bounded across to the dining-cabin,
where he found Mr. Croyden.

A bright fire burned on the hearth and the table with its heaping
plates of hot johnny-cake looked most inviting.

"Hello, youngster!" called the older man, glancing up with a
smile. "How do you find yourself to-day? All lamed up after your jolt
over the carry?"

"Not a bit, Mr. Croyden," laughed Theo. "I'm not lame at all. I'm just
hungry."

"A perfectly normal condition. So long as you can eat I guess there is
not much the matter with you."

"Oh, I can always eat," grinned Theo. "Mother says my appetite never
goes back on me."

"Well, fall to. It looks as if Franz had prepared for the worst,"
chuckled Mr. Croyden. "What are you and your dad up to to-day?"

"We are going to Owl Lake to fish."

"That isn't a bad beginning. It is not a long tramp, and the fish are
biting well over there. I have tried it several times and had
excellent luck. You are wise to start in gradually and not attempt
too long a jaunt at first. There is everything in getting into
training, as your father well knows."

There was a bang of the door, and Dr. Swift entered.

"Good-morning, Doctor," said Mr. Croyden. "So you and your son are to
try your skill at Owl to-day?"

"Yes. That seemed to be a good starter."

"An excellent one."

"Why don't you come along with us?"

"I?"

"Yes; that is, unless you have other plans. We should be glad to have
you. The more the merrier."

"I wish you would come, Mr. Croyden," urged Theo.

"That is very kind of you," returned Mr. Croyden, hesitating a
little. "I ha