"Don't you dare to mention such a thing. No, I
am not going home, boys. But one thing is certain, we can't stay at
Lake Cameron."

"Let us try our luck at Firefly Lake," suggested Whopper. "That
isn't as large as this lake, but it is certainly a nice sheet
of water. And the hunting around there ought to be just as good
as around here."

The others said they were willing, and a little later they made
their way out of Lake Cameron and sent the rowboat along the rocky
watercourse in the direction of Firefly Lake. It was now past
noon, yet nobody was in the humor for eating.

"The more I think of Andrew Felps the madder I get," said Shep.
"I don't see how a man can be so mean. It wouldn't have hurt
him a bit to have let us stay there."

"I hope he has no luck at hunting," grumbled Giant. "He deserves
to go home skunked."

"He will get some game---or his guides will get it for him," said
Snap. "I wonder if it is possible that he has bought up Firefly
Lake, too."

"My gracious, that's so!" ejaculated Whopper. "No use of going
there if he has. He'll root us out sooner or later."

"Firefly Lake belongs to half a dozen people," said Giant. "Why,
come to think of it, one of my uncles had an interest up there."

"Then I reckon we'll be safe."

It was no easy matter to guide the rowboat through the narrow
and swiftly flowing river they were now on, and the young hunters
had to give all their attention to the task. Once or twice they
struck the rocks rather sharp blows, but no damage was done, for
which they were thankful.

"One thing is certain," said Snap, when a wider part of the watercourse
was gained. "That gasolene launch can never follow us to this
lake. It's too large."

"Yes, and the tramp from one lake to the other is not easy," added
Shep. "Old Jed Sanborn told me that."

"Won't Jed be angry when he learns that Felps has bought up Lake
Cameron," put in Giant. "That was one of his favorite hunting
and fishing places."

They had to go so slow through some portions of the stream that
it was nightfall by the time Firefly Lake was reached. It was
clouding up, and when the sun went down not a star showed itself.

"This looks as if we were going to have rain before morning," was
Shep's comment. "Just our luck---to be caught in the open."

"Don't croak," said Snap. "No matter what comes, let us make
the best of it."

It was almost impossible in the fast gathering darkness to distinguish