these things later on; he ought to
know."

"Yes, and perhaps he can help us go ashore, and get a fine deer once in
a while!" exclaimed Larry, who loved to enjoy the good things of life
almost as much as he did to exploit his ability as a cook. "Yum! yum,
a real venison steak, cooked on the spot where the animal was
shot--what a treat for hungry fellows, eh?"

"Wait," said the other, nodding. "You may change your mind before a
great while. For instance, venison ought to hang quite a time before
being eaten. I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed, Larry, and
that if we're lucky enough to get a deer you'll find it as tough and
dry as all get-out."

"Then things ain't all they're cracked up to be," declared the other.
"I always read that things tasted just dandy in camp; and here you
spoil all my illusions right off the reel."

"They taste good because the appetite is there," remarked Phil. "A
fellow gets as hungry as a bear in the spring after he comes out from
his hibernating. But already you ought to know that, because you're
eating half again as much as you do up home. And of your own cooking
too."

"That stamps it gilt-edged, A Number One," laughed Larry. "But here's
Tony beginning to wake up. Come and join us, Tony. We want to ask you
heaps of things about the animals of the timber and the swamps; also
something about your people. You see, we ain't down here just for our
health or the fun of ft. Phil here has got a mission to perform, that
concerns the terrible McGee they told us about up in the river town."

Again did Tony send that questioning look at Phil Lancing; and there
was something besides inquiry in his manner. Doubtless the words so
carelessly uttered by good-natured Larry had stirred up mingled
emotions in the breast of the swamp boy, and he was wondering what sort
of a message the son of the man who now owned all that wild country
below, could be carrying to the giant shingle-maker, leader of the
whole McGee clan.

"If I c'n tell you anything jest ask me, sah!" he remarked, in his
singularly smooth and even voice. "I sure ought tuh be ready tuh
'blige after all yuh done foh me. But I wisht you'd done never come
down thisaways, case they's hard men, the McGees, an' I reckons as how
they ain't got any reason tuh think kindly o' your governor."

As he said this bluntly, Tony looked squarely into the face of Phil;
who however only smiled as he made reply.

"I see you have heard