hand.

He had managed to develop his two flashlight pictures, and so far as he
could tell from the films they appeared to be clean-cut good ones. Ethan
after inspecting the negatives had expressed the opinion that they
looked "fine."

From various indications Phil began to believe he had the other
interested in the work, and that it would not be long before Ethan might
be counted as one of those who call it fascinating.

Phil was thinking of all this as he walked along. Numerous other things
came into his mind also. He even wondered whether some accident might
not cause him to come upon Mazie's father, and what "daddy" would prove
to be.

Somehow the boy had come to believe the man could not be bad, or he
would never have held the affection of that dear little heart; and he
knew from many signs that Mazie certainly fairly worshiped her father.

Altogether the trip up to Lake Surprise was turning out delightfully all
around.

There might be a few things associated with it that would not always be
a happy memory with some of his chums. For instance, there was the
episode of the hornets' nest which poor Lub had kicked on the impulse of
the moment, thinking it only a harmless "puff-ball." He would shiver
every time some buzzing sound reminded him of his wild flight; but even
then Lub had learned a lesson he could never forget.

Phil kept his camera ready for instantaneous use. He knew that if by any
great good luck he "jumped" a deer that had been lying down, and
sleeping in the heat of the day, it would require considerable presence
of mind and a quick action in order to snapshot the animal at close
quarters.

Being somewhat of an experienced hunter, Phil had been careful when
starting out to head into the wind. This was done so that a deer would
not discover his presence through any sense of smell, until he was close
up.

Once given a fair chance, and he believed he was capable of handling the
situation.

As luck would have it his course took him through the very same neck of
the woods where on the previous day he had found Mazie, only now he had
gone half a mile and more beyond that spot.

All at once as Phil carefully pushed through a screen of bushes he heard
a scrambling sound. Some animal jumped to its feet, and Phil, as he took
note of the dun color, the immense size, the mule-like ears, the square
muzzle and the two-thirds grown horns knew that he was face to face with
the king of the Adirondack woo