ur great detectives! Why, they ain't in the same class as
our chum here. You see, fellows, truth will out. What more proof do you
want?" demanded Jerry.

"Everything has been proven. You are the hero of the hunt, Jerry. I pass
up my claim when you're around. And so Andy means to let us alone, does
he? Can he speak for his whole crowd, too?" queried Frank.

"I don't know; perhaps not He said something about Pet Peters having to
do it himself if he insisted on carrying on this nasty business of
bothering us. So perhaps we may have more trouble with them, unless Andy
takes the bit in his teeth, and licks a few of his pals."

Will was meanwhile busily engaged with his camera. He first of all
dragged several of the dead dogs around until they presented a gruesome
appearance, bunched close together.

"Oh, if you would only run around that old tree a few times, Jerry, you
don't know how much obliged I'd be. Of course any one must imagine that
the dog pursuing you happens to just be out of sight at the time I snap
you off. But think how much pleasure the picture will give future
generations. _Please_ do!" he begged.

"What do I care about future generations? It would give me the nightmare
every time I looked at the measly thing. I guess you'd feel the same way
if you just imagined you were going to have a piece gobbled from your leg
with every revolution you made. Nixey for me, old chum," observed the
other, indignantly.

"Then if you won't, I suppose I'll have to take a still picture; but it's
really too bad. However, I have others of you, and some day I'll try a
composite picture, inserting you in the honorable position you decline to
fill," grumbled Will, as he pressed the button, and secured his view of
the venerable tree with the clump of dogs near its base.

"Talk about your obstinate chaps, did you ever see the equal of him? When
I decline to do the tall running act, he's going to get out a fake
picture anyway, with me in it! In that case I might as well stand for it.
Here, you, I'll conspire with you to fix it. If it's got to be a
counterfeit, let's make it a decent one."

So, after all, Will's persistency won out.

"You'll be glad when you see the result, I'm sure," he said, as he
assisted Jerry to stand the dead hound on his stiffened feet, and
make it appear as though he might be stretching out in furious
pursuit of some one.

"Now, let me get started winding up around the tree. Tell me when the
humbug bu