The Boy Chums in the Forest

of these and a gleam of hope lit up his face. Although this dead giant of the island was many feet from the sinking lad, yet in its youth it had sent out nearly over him one long, slender, taper

ion, "Come back, Charley," he called wildly. "I

glimpse of what was going on. "Don't try it, Charley," he

osed over his chum's head. Never did sailor go aloft more quickly than he swung himself up from branch to branch. Quickly he reached the overhanging bough. At its juncture with the trunk he paused for a second to catch his breath, then swung himself out

ut, Walt," he sang down cheeril

dy vigorous and his muscles hard and strong. Slowly he drew himself up out of the clinging ooze which closed behind him with a sickening, sucking sound. Once clear of the mud

e put that plan into Charley's head and gave him the

sailor in simple, uncouth speech, offered up a little prayer of h

t Charley's hand and wrung it vigorously. "Y

led his hand away. "I guess we'd better be getting bac

"But you are right about getting back to camp. I, for one

mp-fire, the two canoes were soon made fast again at the point and their occupants we

hey spread out to view the beautiful

hurried count. "Golly, guess dis nigger goi

t a small pair of steelyards. The plumes were tied car

an ounce that makes one hundred dollars, lads.

uccess the boys' faces

studyin' on. You're thinkin' of all them poor innocent birds we've killed to get them feathers. You're thinki

e explained, "I climbed up and looked, and it was resti

with deep feeling. "It's fit work for br

Maybe we can rig up some sort of trap that will do the work without killin' 'em. It's time for bed, now, lads,

harley, thoughtfully, as he stretched out on his couch and pulled his

thrust upon him bore heavily upon his young shoulders. It would not have been so bad were it not for the close proximity of that band of twelve, armed, desperate, escaped murderers. Their attitude towards th

ment is wrong. I'll confide it all to someone else to-morrow and see if their opinion agrees with mine." With little reflection, he

nce to whisper while breakfast was cooking next morning. "Let's get awa

up the things and the captain was engaged in sorting out and pac

essly together, but did not stop until the

me half wild with curiosity," cried Walter,

isp of smoke rising from the convicts' c

nything new?" Walte

m uncertain whether I've got the proper answer or have got everything distorted by long

y, "sounds just like a lawyer

sputed fact, that those fellows over there were either c

sent, too intere

account, even down to the renegade Indian, we are, I think

ict them without any ev

state means twelve murderers, men without mercy, who would hesitate at nothing, are for several days and nights close to a party of four who do

p," said his

y to small, isolated places, change their appearance as much as possible, and each shift for himself. To remain together increases the risk of capture for each and all. There must be some powerful motive

what is their object?" de

, they are likely the same party that were hunting in the woods and have now returned to the Everglades. By the signs I pointed out to you there is another par

r," Walter objected. "I

f his plumes to his chief as tribute. Consider a party of expert hunters after a long hunt of weeks; why, t

, "they mean to slaughter the Indians for their pl

rley coolly. "I am glad that you prove I am