e, for instance, with that silly look of his on his
face, saying: 'Anybody seen my camp hatchet around? Funny how it's
always _my_ things that get carried off! The jinx never hides
anything belonging to _you_ fellers!' I'd have something worth
while."

"Oh! come off, will you, Davy; if I thought I looked like you say, I'd
let all my traps disappear every day but what I'd kick up a row," and
Step Hen assumed an air of indignation with these words that caused a
general laugh to go around.

Of course it had to be explained to the two guides, for they were to be
in the picture, smoking their pipes contentedly; and apparently Eli
telling a story, to which the rest of the scouts were listening eagerly,
possibly laughing.

Having fixed things to his satisfaction, Davy disappeared, slipping away
from the camp-fire on the side he had decided upon as offering the best
natural advantages for a flashlight view.

They could not see him, but guessed that he was working his way toward
them as slily as he could; since he had announced that he meant to play
the part of an enemy, stealing up to spy upon the camp.

Presently they did manage to get Eli started telling a story; for Thad
knew it would be better for the picture if the guides seemed natural,
and not on parade.

Meanwhile Davy was creeping forward, intent on reaching the place he had
picked out beforehand, and where, without exposing himself, he could set
his camera, and then fire the cartridge.

When to his uneducated mind--in the line of photography--Davy had things
just about to his liking, he held himself in readiness for what he
deemed an extra fine view, when the boys were laughing heartily at the
climax of Eli's queer story of a scrape he once found himself in that
was really humorous, though at the time it may have appeared anything
but that to the actor.

"Now!" said Davy, partly to himself, as he fired his cartridge.

There was a sudden brilliant and dazzling flash, that must have been as
fierce as the display of lightning when the bolt hits close at hand. And
while those at the fire were schooled to repress their natural alarm,
evidently the same could not be said of a looker-on not counted in the
bill; for there was a hoarse cry of alarm from the bushes across the
way, and the sound of crashing seemed to tell of a precipitate flight.

CHAPTER V.

JIM'S SECRET.

"What was that?" exclaimed Bumpus.

"Oh! Davy just had to let out a whoop!" comme