ver.

The ham now being ready, the trio of hunters started in. By the time
they had satisfied their hunger the stock of provisions connected with
the expedition had visibly decreased. But every one was satisfied.
Even Nick glowed with ardor, for he was never happier than when
watching someone "filling up"--next to eating himself, he liked to see
others so employed.

Of course the three men were in a very happy mood when the breakfast
had been concluded. They had not dreamed of such a feast half an hour
before.

"Nevah will forget this, boyees, nevah," declared the sheriff, as he
arose, and allowed his belt to loosen a bit. "It was clever of ye to
treat us white. If so be the chance ever comes when we kin return the
favor, call on us; eh, fellers?"

Both the others added their rude but well meant thanks. The delight of
that coffee would doubtless remain a pleasant memory with them for a
long time to come.

"Now we must git along," remarked the sheriff, as he picked up his
rifle. "You see, we're after a passel o' convicts that broke loose
from a camp back country a bit, where they was farmed out to a planter.
We larnd they hit foh the river, like every rascal down hyah does as
soon as he runs; and we 'spect to cornah the same with these fine dawgs
this mawnin'. So long, boyees, and thank ye again foh the feed."

Jack waited to see if the discovery he feared would come. The two men
unfastened the tied dogs, and when the animals tried to pull toward the
oak they jerked the other way.

"Cum along thisaways, yuh fool dawgs!" one of them shouted angrily, as
he again jerked savagely at the leather thong. "Down the river's the
way we'uns mean tuh travel, d'ye heah? Nothin' doin' thatways; and the
scrub's too thick. Git a move on yuh, Kaiser. We 'spect tuh raise a
hot trail 'tween hyah an' Trotter's Point."

And so they moved off, the sheriff turning ere they vanished from view
down the bank of the river, to wave his hand in farewell; to which the
boys of course made a similar reply.

Then, when the posse had faded from view, the four turned and looked at
each other.

"That's the time we were in the swim, Buster," said George, nodding, as
if more than pleased. "You see it pays to stick close to these lucky
fellows. If we'd gone on ahead now we'd have missed all this circus.

"Ain't I just glad we didn't though," declared the fat boy. "Don't
care if they did clean up the last of my nice little ham; pl