e right tying-up place, will you?"

The two chums had talked the matter over when they had a chance, while
Tony happened to be at the other end of the boat; and thus decided to
coax the swamp boy to don some extra clothes they had along with them.
He was not so much smaller than Phil, and if he was to make one of
their party they felt that it would look better for him to discard the
rags he was then wearing.

Tony took it in the right spirit, and after a bath in the river that
evening he said he would be only too glad to deck himself out in the
trousers, flannel shirt and moccasins which Phil offered. The big red
M on the breast of Larry's shirt, which was to become his property,
seemed to take the eye of the swamp lad more than anything else. Of
course it stood for Madison, the name of the baseball club the Northern
boy belonged to; but it was easy to feel that it also represented the
magic name of McGee.

Tony presently called out that their stopping place was just ahead. So
Phil shut off power, after he had gently swung the boat in near the
left bank. The setting pole, which every boat cruising in Florida
waters invariably carries, was brought into use, and in this way the
nose of the Aurora touched the shore.

Larry immediately tumbled over the side, rope in hand, whipping the
same around a sentinel tree that stood close to the water's edge, as if
for the special use of voyagers.

Once the boat was "snubbed" the current swung her around until her bow
pointed up stream; and in this position she would rest easy during the
night. But Phil made doubly sure against accidents by going ashore,
and seeing that Larry had fashioned the proper sort of hitch knot with
the stout cable.

"There's still half an hour of daylight, fellows," sang out Phil, as he
picked up his gun, together with the belt of shells; "and while you
amuse yourselves here, I think I'll take a little walk around.
Possibly another deer might heave in sight, or even a wild turkey."

"Yum! yum! you make my mouth water, Phil," mumbled Larry, who was
already getting out some fishing tackle, with the idea of trying for a
bass in the brownish waters below the tied-up launch.

"Keep an eye out for rattlers!" warned Tony.

"You just believe I will," called Phil, over his shoulder. "I've got
my leather leggins on though, which would be some protection. But I
don't care to interview the fangs of a big diamondback. So-long, boys;
see you later!"