tilted high in the air.

"Do you think he'll call on our folks about this?" whispered Whopper,
somewhat anxiously. "I shouldn't like to leave under a cloud."

"Oh! he hasn't got backbone enough to make trouble," answered
Shep. But Shep was mistaken, as we shall learn later.

The rowboat was now some distance from the dock, and with a final
wave of the hand the boys began the journey to Lake Cameron.

In a straight line the lake was about ten miles from the town,
but the river was a winding one, so they had a row of over thirteen
miles before them.

"I hope we haven't forgotten anything," said Whopper. "It would
be a shame to have to go back, eh, fellows?"

"We are not going back," returned Giant. "If anything has been
left behind we will have to get along without it."

Having left the town behind, the boys reached a point on the stream
where the trees and bushes were thick on either side. They turned
in toward the left bank, where the sun was not quite so strong,
for in spite of the fact that it was fall it promised to be warm.

"Be careful along here," cautioned Shep. "There are some big
rocks just under the surface."

He had scarcely spoken when there came a terrific bump which almost
threw him overboard. Whopper was sent sprawling on his side,
and his oar sent a shower of water over Giant.

"Wow!" came from Whopper. "Say, did we strike a fortress or what?
I thought I was going to the bottom sure!"

"I said to be careful," answered Shep, as the craft sheered off.
"Either move out to the middle of the stream or else go slower."

"No use of moving to the middle of the stream now," said Giant.
"I want to land a short distance below here."

"What for?" asked the others.

"I'll show you when we get there."

Presently they came to a clearing where there was a cornfield.
Beyond this was a fine apple orchard, and looking among the trees
they espied some especially fine apples.

"We may as well take a few along," said Giant.

"Who owns the orchard?" questioned Whopper.

"Pop Lundy," answered Snap. "The meanest farmer in this district."

"Then he won't give us any apples," declared Whopper.

"We'll have to make an appropriation," said Giant, coolly. "He
owes me some, anyway. I once did an errand for him in town and
he hardly gave me a thank you for it."

"If he catches us he will make it warm."

"We'll keep our eyes peeled."

After a few words more the rowboat was run up under some bushes