here they live? How tame to go to a menagerie
and get a photo of a poor old bear behind the bars, when a fellow has a
chance to take him in the open!"

Of course it was Will who made this remark. He was the official
photographer of the Rod, Gun and Camera Club, as our four boy friends
called themselves, and his ambition to secure striking scenes, with wild
game in the center of the stage, had already led him into quite a few
scrapes, just as it would again when the opportunity presented itself.

"But what I have told you isn't quite all," remarked Frank presently,
when the chatter of voices allowed him a chance to get in a few words
edgewise.

"What else have you got up your sleeve?" demanded Bluff.

"Yes, confess everything, and perhaps we'll forgive you," came from
Will.

"Well, I've had a letter." And Frank held something up.

"From that old side partner of Jesse Wilcox, the trapper whose camp we
used to visit during our fall hunt?" cried Jerry.

Frank nodded his head.

"And what does he say? Hurry up, and tell. Can't you see that Bluff,
here, will be overboard? He's leaning so far over the side that the
water is ready to pour in over the gunwale. Will Martin Mabie take us
out?" asked Jerry.

"He says he will be glad to do so, for old friendship's sake. I'm to
wire when to expect us, and leave the rest to him," Frank explained.

"I hope he has told you what we are to fetch along. We've done some
hunting, fellows, in our time, but that sort of thing, with big game in
prospect, calls for heavier gear. None of your repeating shotguns need
apply this trip, Bluff, you understand?"

Jerry could never become wholly reconciled to the modern gun Bluff
owned. He professed to be such a clean sportsman that he always believed
in giving the game a chance, and declared it to be next door to murder
to have six shots in hand when hunting birds. With big game, it was all
right, because then a fellow's life might often be in danger.

"Oh, Martin Mabie has written quite a long letter. He seems to be an
educated man, and not at all the brand we figured out from hearing Jesse
talk about him. Boys, we can now lay our plans, and make a start inside
of a week," declared Frank.

"Isn't it just great? Did ever a set of grads get such a chance for fun
as this?"

"I don't believe they ever did, or ever will, Bluff. And our folks have
been mighty good to give us this glorious opportunity to enjoy an outing
such as we've hankere