iled, and after a little trouble, they started
off. Pud was soon puffing and blowing, for the path was steep. Mr.
Anderson led the way for the other two had been lost to view even before
the second party got started.

"This isn't so easy as it looks," said Pud to Bill.

"If you're getting tired, I'll take it," answered Bill.

"Not on your life. I've got to learn the knack of this portaging, for I
mean to do a lot of it this summer, and I might just as well get used to
it now as any time," said Pud, between his puffs.

"Let the weight rest on forearms, head and shoulders and you won't mind
it," said Mr. Anderson. "As you say, there's a knack to it. Also, it
takes muscles that we don't use right along, and for that reason it's
rather tiring at first."

By this time they had topped the little divide between the two lakes and
they began to descend. Pud began to have his troubles, for like all
novices, he carried the canoe poorly. He came near to falling several
times, and it was with a sigh of relief that he came out on the shore of
a small lake. Bob and Mr. Waterman were in their canoe off the shore,
evidently waiting for them.

"How's the portaging?" yelled Bob, as soon as Pud came in sight.

"Fine," said Pud. "But I have a crease here in the back of my neck that
will be sore for a week."

They were soon off again, with Bob leading. The lake opened out and they
found themselves in a stretch that gleamed a good mile ahead of them.
All at once Bob slowed down and Mr. Anderson called on the boys to stop
paddling.

"He sees something," said Mr. Anderson.

All eyes were on Mr. Waterman as he got his gun ready. Over to the left
the boys saw three ducks swimming, and they knew that this was the
reason for their stop. "Bang!" went the gun, and one of the ducks
toppled over, but the other two disappeared as if by magic.

"Pick up the bird," yelled Mr. Waterman to Mr. Anderson.

"All right," replied the latter.

Mr. Waterman looked around carefully, and a minute later the two ducks
arose to the surface some distance farther on. Bob and he took up their
paddles and tried to get within a reasonable distance again. They had
scared the birds so that they kept swimming away, keeping out of
distance. At last Mr. Waterman laid down his paddle and got his rifle
again. This time he missed, for it must be remembered that he was
shooting with a rifle and not with a shotgun. It was only after three
more trials that he bagged hi