ghted close by me, and I saw it was a wild turkey. Well, I
just up and gave him both barrels, as fast as I could pull the
triggers. Then he flopped over, I ran forward and nailed my prize.
And he's pretty heavy to tote any distance, too, I tell you."

"That means another of those earth ovens tonight, don't it, Jack?"
asked Nick.

"Nothing else would do the business," came the reply; "and so everybody
get busy, piling up the wood while I dig a hole," replied the one
addressed.

The turkey was baked to a turn when they uncovered the oven in the
morning, and, having their appetites along, even so early in the day,
those six lads made that noble bird look like a rack of bones before
they admitted that they were satisfied. Indeed, they had to fairly
drag Nick away from the wreck, for he declared it to be the finest
treat of his whole life.

But then, he often said that. What was present always seemed the best
to Nick. Fading events held little interest for him, since the mill
could never grind again with the water that was past.

In the morning the big sound looked smooth enough to tempt them upon
its treacherous bosom. The crossing was made with ease; and later on
came Sapelo with its particular troubles, the wind having risen
meanwhile.

But the boats proved seaworthy, and the young Corinthians who manned
them had learned many a valuable lesson from past experiences; so that
by noon they had navigated this dangerous sheet of water and were well
along their way.

"There's a lighthouse away over there, Jack," announced Josh, pointing
ahead.

"Yes; that must be Doboy Light, and the sound of the same name will be
the next to take our attention, boys," Jack replied, composedly, as
though he had the entire map of the coast region impressed on his mind
by now.

"Is there any end to 'em?" asked Nick, dolefully.

"Two more before we reach Fernandina, St. Simon's and big Cumberland.
And after we've rested at Fernandina we'll go through a few more
passages, and then take a little outside run of a few miles, when we
can enter the St. Johns."

"Oh! happy day!" chanted Josh, pretending to strum a banjo as he sang.

"Then, if all goes well, we ought to bring up at Jacksonville inside of
say two days at the most; is that so, Jack?" Herb inquired.

"Correct. And nothing is going to happen, make up your mind to that,
fellows," Jack declared, resolutely. "We've allowed nothing to
frighten us up to now, and yet used