ard, and began to eat and discuss their
plans at the same time.

"It's a regular windfall for us that the old schoolhouse is going
to be shut up next Wednesday," said Snap. "Just think of two
months of loafing."

"Bless the storm that ripped off part of the roof," came from Shep.

"And bless the fact that they can't get it mended right away,"
was Will's comment. "I don't believe they'll open again until
after the holidays."

"Of course they won't," said Whopper. "They can't do it. They've
got to put on a new roof, mend the water pipes, reset the steps,
paint the place, and do sixteen hundred and one things."

"The best thing we can do is to make all arrangements for going
on our tour bright and early Monday morning," went on Snap. "We
will have from now on to get ready in. That will be plenty of
time."

"Humph! I could get ready in an hour," murmured Whopper. "What's
there to do anyway? Pick up our guns, pack up some grub, take
along a tent and some fishing tackle, and there you are. Easy
as sliding off a banana peel."

"Is it?" came from Snap. "That's all you know about it. In the
first place, you must remember that this is no outing for a day
or two, or even a week. We have got to take supplies for at least
a month, if not two months. And I don't want to live in a tent
when it gets good and cold. We've got to build a shack of some
sort. There will be a hundred and one things to do before we
are ready to start. And it is going to cost something, too."

"How much?" asked Giant, anxiously. "Please don't make the amount
too high, or I won't be able to stand for my share."

"We'll figure it out," said Snap, producing a note-book and a
pencil. "I suppose when it comes to such things as flour, sugar,
salt, coffee and the like, we can get them from our homes. But
there are other things that we will have to buy. For instance,
we will need plenty of powder and shot, and we'll want to take
medicines and plasters along, in case of accidents-----"

"I can get those from my father," interrupted Shep. "He has an
emergency case that will be just the thing."

"How about-----" began Giant, when he stopped short, to gaze at
a man who was running down the road at top speed. "Hullo, Mr.
Harrison!" he called. "Where are you going in such a hurry?"

"Goin' to the fire!" was the puffed-out answer.

"Fire?" ejaculated all of the boys, leaping to their feet. "Where?"

"Down the river. Reckon it's th