The Boy Chums in the Forest

abbing up their guns, the little party struck out

t at a run when Charley ch

that the convicts have got him and we

slackened their advance to a slow walk, keeping a cautious

d in a few minutes they were in sight of the river bank. Charley, who was i

k at that

pen, fast asleep. A half dozen fine bass lay on the grass beside him, the end of hi

for causing us so much w

e captain, "he's gettin' a bi

me bushes, where they could peep o

y, and at last the line tauted w

f fish beside him. The continued jerking of the line at his leg seemed to bring him

agerly through the bushes, expecti

to the knoll, Chris gave a hearty yank

though it were reeds. One glance, as he flew by the watchers without seeing them, caused them to hold their sides and double up with laughter. The line was still fastened to Chris' leg, a

off, but Chris was making for the lean-t

severed line and hel

exultantly. "Guess it must have been the first one

ear what he says," Walter said,

h and stringing them upon a cor

where they found Chris stretched out on the g

for help?" he demanded indignantly. "'Pears

hris," said Walter, soothingly,

led fifty of 'em, but more and more kept coming so I had to run. Golly, I 'spect tha

down the string of fish,

nake, Chris," he explained, "it's an eel; they

h, washed them clean, and without removing head or scales, thrust them into the glowing coals. In twenty minutes they were done,

ng his rifle put it down by his side. "Get your guns quick and

view. As they clambered over the barricade, Charley counted them. They were twelve in number, one o

unseled Charley, as the band approached. "I d

them?" whispered Walter in amazement

footsteps. Their faces were haggard, their hands moving restlessly and their features twitching. They looked

e to hand and awaited the convicts' coming with lesse

eep. He stopped before the captain and sank to a seat on a stump. The pe

got any tobacco, fer mercy' sake, loan us

tily unbuckled the flap of his saddle-bags and brought out a hu

s in case we met any, but I reckon you ne

distributed the plugs amongst his followers, and in a momen

ks began to straighten, dull eyes commenced to brig

it, now I have seen what a slave it can make

when deprived of the use of it," said Charley. "None of i

of the powerful narcotic, the leader of the convicts

getting up our supplies, an' didn't find it out until we'd come too far to go back. Jim thar,"

" inquired the c

ful hard for a mighty poor living," declared the ruffian. "An' y

id so," said C

you-alls got them dinky little canoes for, an' if you were after 'gators you'd be packing big rifles 'stead

inquired Wal

. Now, I knows of a tidy little island 'bout twelve miles south of here where there's stacks of the birds. If you start right now you'll hit it before them pesky va

be bringing many plumes in

hem varmints are getting so foxy they just hoards 'em up. They know the price is goin' up right along.

-throats arose and with awkwa

," he advised. "Thar's a gang of Injins coming down the river day after to-morrow, an' they'll be sure to clean

unters could questi

r leaving here," sa

e them fellows up while we had the chance. They was too plum wo

troublesome problem, and has found the solution not that which he desired. The outlaws' stat