red Giant. "I'll try him." He called Wags,
and the dog leaped into the craft and took his place at the bow.

"He'll do for a lookout," said Whopper. "Come on, it's time to
start."

They looked around the temporary camp, to make certain that nothing
had been left behind, then entered the rowboat and shoved off.
Snap and Whopper took the oars, and soon they were on the journey
up Lake Cameron to Firefly Lake.

"Don't forget one thing," said Snap shortly after starting. "If
possible we want to bring down some sort of game for dinner. It
won't do to use up our canned things and that stuff."

"Everybody watch out," said Giant. "And if we can't shoot something,
why, toward dinner time, I'll try my hand at fishing again."

CHAPTER IX

INTO THE RAPIDS

It was another ideal day, and the young hunters felt in the best of
spirits. Whopper felt so good that presently he burst out singing
an old school song, and the others joined in.

"That's all right, and very good, but if we want any game we've
got to keep quiet," said the doctor's son after the song was ended.

"Right you are," answered Whopper promptly. "And as I'd rather eat
later than sing now I'll shut up."

They followed the shore line of Lake Cameron, heading for the
rocky watercourse that connected that body of water with Firefly
Lake. The eyes of all were on the alert for game, and toward the
middle of the forenoon Giant called a halt.

"I saw something in the trees yonder," he said, pointing ashore.
"Looked to me as if they might be partridge."

"Partridge would suit me first rate," answered Snap. "Let us land
and try our luck."

"Making as little noise as possible they beached the rowboat and
Giant silenced the dog, not knowing what he might do while on a hunt.

"Perhaps he's a good bird dog and perhaps he isn't," he said. "We'll
take no chances."

Each of the young hunters had his shotgun, and one after another
they followed Shep to the spot where the game had been seen among
the trees. High among the branches of a silver maple tree they
saw some ruffed grouse, commonly known to many sportsmen as partridge.

"There's our chance," said the doctor's son. "Who is to fire?"

"Let us all take a chance," pleaded Giant. "Just to open the
outing, you know."

Shep was willing, and said he would give the word. With great
caution they crept as close as possible to the grouse. The birds
were on three branches of the maple, one over