off. "I've got a notion for some rabbit pie. Give me the rifle, Dick,
and I'll go a little way with Mr. McGee, as far as that little willow
wood where you got the cotton-tails."

"All right," said Dick, "and tell you what I'll do. I'll come, too. I
can borrow Jack's rifle."

"It's in the tent," said Jack. "Take good care of it."

"I'll do that," promised Dick.

Jack and Zeb went back to their task of putting the finishing touches
on the Wondership, stocking her lockers with provisions for the
Rattlesnake Island trip, while old man McGee, accompanied by the two
boys, rode out of the camp.

The professor was away collecting specimens somewhere and had not been
seen since breakfast time.

The donkey, carrying its odd burden, walked behind old McGee's horse
and the boys kept pace alongside, listening to the old prospector's
everlasting stories of how some day he would strike it rich. His faith
never wavered. He believed implicitly that eventually he would make
the "big strike" and live in affluence for the remainder of his life.

The willow grove, where Dick went rabbit-hunting, was up the river and
on its banks far away from the water nothing grew but cactus,
greasewood and mesquite. As they neared it the monotony of the walk
began to pall on Dick. He wanted to have some fun.

He fell behind and took a magnifying glass from his pocket. It was one
he used in his photographic work. Holding it up he focused the sun's
rays through it so that they fell in a tiny burning spot on the
donkey's back. After a few seconds the heat burned through. The donkey
gave a loud bray and kicked up its heels wildly.

Before old man McGee knew what was happening, the creature had jerked
the rope by which he was leading it out of the old man's hand and
dashed off toward the willow wood.

"Hey, come back, consarn ye!" shouted old McGee. "What's the matter
with ther critter, anyhow? He's gone plum daffy."

Dick, doubled up with laughter, watched the circus. There was the
donkey with the ladder across its back racing at full speed toward the
wood, and after it came old McGee on his bony old horse, shouting at
the top of his voice.

Straight for the wood the donkey raced, kicking up its heels and
braying loudly. It dashed in among the trees of the willow wood and at
the same instant there came an appalling yell from among the trees.

"Gracious, what's happened now!" gasped Tom, and then catching Dick's
laughing eye, he exclaimed:

"