e new-comers obeyed the order with
enthusiasm, and two of them, darting out, returned in a few moments with
a couple of crab-nets and the heavy butt of a fishing-rod. Meanwhile,
Ranny and several others had drawn the blankets taut across the bunk,
revealing an irregular bulge down near the foot that certainly moved
slightly.

"Everybody hit together when I give the word," said Ranny. "One,
two--three!"

The sticks descended with vigor, and there was a violent wriggling and
thrashing about beneath the blankets. But the blows came thick and fast,
and in a moment or two all movement ceased.

"I guess it's dead, whatever it is," said Ranny, just as Mr. Reed and
Mr. Curtis appeared behind Vedder, still standing prudently in the
background. "Let's open it up and have a look."

As he turned down the blankets, the boys gripped their sticks tighter,
ready for instant action in case the reptile were not quite dead. But
when a final twitch exposed the cause of the commotion, there was a
moment's silence, followed by a united exclamation of surprise and
disappointment.

"Why, it's nothing but an eel!"

Instantly a yell of laughter went up. Parker and several other occupants
of the tent rolled on their bunks in paroxysms of delight. The two
scoutmasters, smiling broadly, slipped away. Vedder, jaws agape, stared
at Ranny as if unable to believe his hearing.

"An--eel?" he gasped.

"That's all," grinned Ranny. "You've got the whole camp stirred up over a
blooming eel instead of a snake."

The fat boy's teeth came together with a click, and, with face flaming,
he flounced over to his bunk. "You fellows put it there!" he accused
angrily.

"Oh, never!" chuckled Frank Sanson. "I'll bet it got fond of you, like
the crabs, and climbed up there to make friends. And now they've gone
and smashed the poor thing all up, and--"

A roar of laughter drowned his words, and Vedder, grabbing up the eel,
flung it square at his tormentor. But Frank ducked, and the slimy missile
flew past his head to land with a thud on the sand outside. A moment
later the sound of taps sent everybody scurrying for his bunk; but for
some time after lights were out subdued giggles could be heard from
all parts of the camp.

For at least an hour next morning Vedder was very dignified and offish.
But he was too easy-going to maintain a grudge very long, and before
dinner he had become his comfortable, smiling self again. It was noticed,
however, that during