e never dreamed of turning back.

CHAPTER VII

LARRY CATCHES THE FEVER

"Looks like there ought to be some game around here!"

Strange to say it was Larry who made this remark. They had tied up at
noon, and made a fire ashore, at which the midday meal was prepared.
Phil seemed in no particular hurry to proceed afterward; and Larry, who
had been "mousing" around, as he called it, surprised his chum by
declaring that the appearance of the country indicated the presence of
game.

Perhaps the many talks of Phil were beginning to bear fruit. Then
again it might be Larry rather envied his chum the glory of killing
that marauding bobcat; the skin of which at some future day Phil would
have made a fine mat, at which he could point, and carelessly speak of
the "time when he knocked that beast out of a tree, while the moon was
shining, and his companions sound asleep."

More likely than either of these, however, Phil believed his chum was
yearning for a variety in the bill of fare. Quail on toast would
strike Larry about right; or even rabbit or squirrel stew; provided the
meat for the pot were the product of his skill as a Nimrod.

"Suppose you take the gun, and prowl around a bit!" he suggested, more
as a joke than because he dreamed lazy Larry would accept the
proposition.

"All right!" exclaimed the other, with surprising alacrity. "Me to do
the sneaking act, and see if I can hit a flock of barns. You know I
did manage to break one of those bottles you threw up that day, Phil,
even if you said I shut my eyes every time I pulled the trigger. All
the more credit to me. It takes a smart marksman to hit a flying
object with his eyes shut. Just think what a miracle I'd be if I kept
'em open! Gimme the gun, and let me hie forth. Quail for supper
wouldn't go bad; but if it should be wild turkey, why, I suppose we'll
just have to stand it."

Phil hardly knew whether he was doing right to let Larry saunter forth.
Even after he had handed the Marlin over, he shook his head dubiously.

"Don't go far, now," he said, warningly; "and try and be back here
inside of an hour. If you ain't, we'll look you up. And remember,
Larry, if you should get lost don't go to wandering everlastingly
about. Just stop short, make a fire, and get all the black smoke
rising you can. This fat pine makes a great smudge, you know, and
might guide us to you."

"Huh! Lost, me?" cried Larry, pretending to be very indignant. "Why,