are these, Bass?"

"I don't think so," objected Harry. "See that red spot just at the root
of their tail? Well, the natives a call that redfish."

"All right," agreed Arnold, "fresh redfish will go mighty fine. And I'm
hungry enough to eat a big one myself."

"You're always hungry, Arnold," declared his chum.

"No more often than the rest of the crew. I notice they all eat when the
eating is good. And I'd pity the chicken that had to live off the table
scraps from our festive board," declared the boy with emphasis. "We're
noted for being table finishers."

"I notice we all brought our appetites along," admitted Harry.

"Lets land near that oak tree that leans out over the water," suggested
Arnold. There are three tall pines growing a short distance from the oak
and that'll make a good landmark if we walk about."

"The very thing! You haven't forgotten your instructions in scouting,
have you? That idea is a good one."

"Then we'll go up from the river a ways, make a little camp and eat
dinner. Maybe we can see some of the wild creatures of this country. It
would be interesting to watch them at play."

"I'm agreeable. We've got the whole day before us. Isn't it fine to know
that you don't have to get back at any certain time, but can just loaf
along if you wish or work hard if you like?"

"Glorious," agreed Arnold. "Just now, however, you'll want to work hard,
I know, for we're going to have a grand feed on redfish. That means
you'll please get the wood while I clean the 'piece de resistance' of
our dinner. The boys put up a nice lunch."

Not far from the tree where they landed the boys found a suitable spot
for their camp. A fire was soon blazing merrily over which the fish
cooked with an appetizing odor.

"The boys laughed when I brought this pan along," remarked Arnold. "They
evidently didn't believe I would have need for it."

"They'll like that fine big fish we take home, I'll wager."

"After dinner, let's gather some of that Spanish Moss and take it to the
Fortuna. I wonder if it wouldn't make good mattresses."

"They say the negroes and some of the whites down here do just that.
They bury it in the ground a while then pack it into a mattress and have
a fine bed. It must be buried in the earth for a time, though, they say.
It is funny looking stuff isn't it?"

"It surely is. But what is that green plant up there? It looks as if the
oak tree were all dead except that one sprig of green. Strange that