or of gathering,
and in ten years they can well afford to retire from business, or become
landed proprietors by leasing logwood cuttings, sub-letting the land to
those who will pay fifteen cents a hundred pounds for all that can be
gathered."

The strangers were quite as satisfactory cooks as Poyor, and when the
dinner had been spread on the leaves each member of Cummings' party was
ready to do it full justice.

After the meal a short time was spent by the men in smoking, and at
about four o'clock in the afternoon the journey was resumed.

Feeling secure because of numbers, and the reports made by the newcomers
that there was no one in the immediate vicinity the boys were allowed to
follow their own inclinations as to the line of march, and each strayed
here or there as he pleased until the coming of night forced them to
keep together because of the danger to be apprehended from wild animals.

It was late in the evening when they arrived at the hunters' camp; but
Cummings did not propose to remain there even for one night.

He insisted that they could travel by water as well during the hours of
darkness, while it would be no more labor for one to guide the canoe,
allowing her to drift with the current, than to stand watch.

The strangers used every argument to induce him to defer the beginning
of the journey until morning; but he was determined, and after some
controversy the men made the canoe ready.

Neal, Teddy and Jake were stationed amidships, where thanks to the
generous size of the craft, they could stretch out at full length
whenever the fancy seized them. Poyor was seated in the bow, Cummings on
the stern thwart, and the owners of the boat where they could use the
paddles to advantage.

Of this first night's journeying the boys knew very little. The stream
was narrow, and lined on either bank with trees so that at times even
the heavens were obscured by foliage, therefore they could perceive
nothing save the dark wall on either side.

From the movements of the helmsman it was possible to understand when
the canoe was rounding a bend, or being pulled from the bank; but that
was all, and, weary of watching without being able to see anything, the
boys soon gave themselves up to slumber.

When they awakened the little craft was moored to the bank at a point
where the stream formed a basin; a fire was burning brightly, and over
it Poyor bent in a suggestive attitude.

"Well, this is the kind of travelin