h! that's all right, Frank," said Bluff carelessly, "we expect to
have plenty more here before sunset, don't we, Jerry?"

"Simply got to," replied his ally, "if we find it necessary to raid
some farmer's hen-coop, gather up the eggs, wring the necks of two
pullets, clean out his dairy, and leave the ready cash on the
windowsill to settle the bill."

"We're glad to hear you talk that way," laughed Will. "For one I'm
going to make up my mouth for fried eggs to-night, unless it's chicken
on the half shell."

"No danger of that up here in the country; all the eggs are guaranteed
fresh by the farmer tribe, you know," asserted Bluff.

"That guarantee doesn't always go with me," Jerry observed. "It's
generally the smart farmer who finds a hen trying to sit under the
barn floor, and gathers up the seventeen eggs to ship with what he has
in stock. They're as bad as the next one when it comes to deceiving
the poor public."

"You'll just have to excuse me now, because I've had all I want; and
to tell you the truth I'm just wild to see what my Br'er 'Coon looks
like. If he doesn't show up, tail and all, I'll have to try for him
again, that's all."

With that remark Will hurried off, just as Frank expected he would,
for he had noticed how the other hastened with his breakfast. Bluff
and Jerry took longer, because both of them realized they might be
hours on the journey. The village was possibly further away than they
thought; and it was just as well that they "laid in a good foundation
to start with," as Jerry sensibly observed.

"Make the start whenever you get ready, fellows," remarked Frank.
"I'll look after the dishes, and the bunks too, when the blankets are
aired. It seems as if you might have a smooth sea to begin with."

"Yes, but you see we've been banking on some wind from the right
quarter," observed Bluff, "in order to make good use of our sail. I'm
fond of lying back at my ease in a boat, and letting the breeze do
all the work. There's nothing like it, eh, Jerry?"

"Oh, well, if you notice the way the clouds are moving slowly, and
then watch the tiny ripple on the bay, you'll reckon that when the
wind does come up it's going to favor us. We may even get too much of
a good thing before we're done."

"Remember, fellows," Frank cautioned them, "that old boat isn't to be
wholly depended on. I calked the seams the best way I could, but the
wood's a bit rotten, and there's always danger that the oakum may work
lo