y much interested in the way Phil set his trap, and
asked a lot of questions, all of which the other obligingly answered.

And after everything had been arranged the two chums who had such a
mutual love for the Great Outdoors walked back to the Birch Bark Lodge
in company.

CHAPTER IX

THE 'COON PHOTOGRAPHER

"Lightning! Why, we're going to have a storm!" exclaimed X-Ray Tyson.

They were all beginning to feel somewhat tired, and Lub must have had as
many as six or seven little "cat-naps." The fire was burning cheerily
and the interior of the cabin pretty close, despite the fact that the
door had been left wide open.

"Well, let her rain," muttered Lub. "We haven't anything to get wet,
outside of our canoe, and it won't hurt that."

Phil had arisen to his feet. There was a peculiar smile on his face,
Ethan saw. He looked satisfied about something.

"I hope you fellows can spare me the lantern for a little while," he
said.

"Well, that's queer!" observed Lub, in bewilderment.

"What's doing, Phil?" demanded X-Ray Tyson.

"I think I'll go out and get my camera," the other returned.

Then Ethan chuckled.

"I thought that was what it must have been, Phil," he observed, dryly.

"Oh! I see," Lub went on to say; "afraid of the rain, of course. Well, I
suppose it would ruin the thing to get it wet."

"Too bad you've had all that work for nothing, Phil," yawning as he said
this X-Ray tried to look sympathetic; but was really too sleepy to be
anything but ridiculous.

"Oh! I don't know about that," Phil told him, as he picked up the
lantern; "I've got a hunch that the thing's been played to the end of
the string."

Ethan chuckled some more. Both Lub and X-Ray opened their eyes and began
to realize that there was something more to this thing than they had
grasped.

"Whatever can you mean by that?" asked Lub; while the fourth boy,
quicker to catch things, cried out:

"Oh! then that wasn't a flash of lightning after all, Phil?"

"After a kind, it was," Phil went on to say. "In fact, I believe my trap
has been sprung. Mr. 'Coon was early on the trail to-night. I'd better
go and see. If the thing's happened, no need of leaving the camera out
all night, and take chances of a shower. Coming along with me, Ethan?"

"Sure thing!" declared the other, who had only been waiting for an
invitation, as Phil very well knew from the eager look in his eyes.

They soon arrived on the spot.

"It's all right," ob