may strike for
pictures. I'm always on the lookout for anything like that, you
remember."

Frank of course knew next to nothing about the lay of the ground, but
he could give a pretty good guess, for he had kept his eyes about him
all of the time. Accordingly he laid out the course they would take.

"Unless we strike something tougher than we figure on," he explained
to Will, "we ought to make the round and be back in camp long before
sundown."

"What if the other fellows do arrive before us," remarked the
photographer of the expedition, "they can start in to get supper if
they're half starving. I just feel like making hay while the sun
shines. This seems to be one of my lucky days, because I've already
snapped off some pictures that ought to be worth while. When we start
to talking about hermits and such things we'll have something to show
for it."

Starting off, they were speedily in the heart of what seemed to be a
dense wood. Will expressed himself as well pleased with the
surroundings, and soon discovered some remarkable sights that called
for the use of his camera.

They pushed on for more than an hour, and by that time had covered
considerable distance. When Frank hinted that perhaps they had better
turn back Will begged him not to give up just then.

"You see we've still plenty of time to make the cabin long before
dark," he urged, "and I'm sure we'll find it worth our while to keep
on the way we're going. It seems to me the country keeps getting
rougher the further we push ahead. Already I'm just tickled to death
with what I've seen."

"It's a fact that we've run across as wild a section as I've ever met
with," admitted Frank. "I never would have believed there could be
such a primitive stretch of land within a hundred miles of
Centerville. Right now you can look around in every direction, and
there isn't a sign to show that you're not out at the foot of the
Rockies, just as we found it at the time we had our big hunt."

"At that time, you know, Frank, I hadn't caught on to this wild animal
photography business. What wonderful pictures I could have taken then
if only I'd known the racket. It keeps growing on me all the while,
too. Right now I expect I get more of a thrill when I'm snapping off
the picture of a bull moose bellowing his defiance to the guide's
call, than you would with your rifle at your shoulder ready for a
shot."

"I reckon you do, Will, for I can understand what you feel. I reall