the hour set, the boys busied themselves
around their tents, helped to clear up more of the beach or watched the
guides as they worked on the landing. The latter was a very interesting
operation. They had three logs cut in half. It was easy to cut the ends
of the logs so that they rested on a short piece on the shore and on the
top of two small pieces that were driven in at the right distance from
the shore. The whole was kept together by wooden spikes driven into
place through holes made by fire in the logs. When the first section was
completed, it was as solid as possible, making a landing over two feet
wide and nearly twenty feet long. The guides planned to put in another
section of the same length, and they expected to have more trouble with
it. This extra section was being put in more for swimming and diving
purposes than for any real need. Mr. Waterman made such a remark to
Jack, who said that it would be just the thing for him when the rest of
the party were away on trips.

"I'll just get out on the end of that little landing and I'll bet you I
get just about as many trout as the rest of you," said Jack.

"I wouldn't be surprised if you would, you old wizard," said Mr.
Anderson. "I think you must have some special bait, for those trout just
come to your hook like flies to honey."

The boys paired off about ten o'clock, and when they came back shortly
before one o'clock, it was found that Bill had had the best luck, with
Bob next and Pud last. Bill had twenty-six fine trout in his bag, Bob
twenty-one and Pud fifteen.

Jack looked them over as they brought them to him.

"Well, I guess we won't starve for another day or two anyway," he said.
"I'm glad to see that you can catch enough fish to supply yourselves. A
fisherman is no good at all until he can do that."

"You don't need to be much of a fisherman to do that up here," said Bob.

"Yes, fortunately, that's so," replied Jack, as he went on with his
work.

Several days sped on and it became necessary to go out to Escoumains to
get the letters and some more grub. Mr. Waterman made this known one
evening, stating that he thought that he would go out through an old
Indian trail that had not been used for some years.

"This trail is much shorter than by the road, and, if we can open it up,
it will be a fine thing for us."

"Yes, and it will be a fine thing for the habitants at Escoumains," said
Mr. Anderson.

"I hadn't thought of that," said Mr. Waterman