In Camp on the Big Sunflower

he part of Steve, Max felt that his

tle time to thi

t dreamed that he saw Steve fumbling at the haversack in th

of what he believed he had seen, watch Steve c

not much given to lon

of a lad's nature that throws off the gloom

ed to carry them up to the forks of the Evergreen River must be securely hidden. This was mainly on account of those pra

ts," declared Steve, wrathfully,

n the bottoms with a fe

dy-

y b-back to town," grunted Toby, who was no

oats to that big cove where the tall reeds grow so thick. Seems to me you ought to be a

" affirmed Bandy-legs, a

t a move

at's your h-h-hurry. R-r-rome was

see you've got something on your mind. Now, w

-p-p-p"-whistle-"policy for us to mark the place where

bled most in his speech, so that he was compelled to halt, and give that sho

re you beheld the warning sign: "Stop! Look! Listen!" and upon complying

clare. "If so be you hide the boats away so well that we couldn't

at tramp to Carson would be anything but a peach.

rk the place, boys. Now, get a move on, Toby. Where wi

down the tent, putting it up again some distance away from the water, removing every sign

up, the tent had vanished, Steve and Owen were carrying blankets, food, and cooking uten

asked Bandy-legs, as he watc

out all the 'sign' we've ma

he other, his eyes filled with admiration, as he saw how deftly Max smoothed out

tprint until it was merged with the surrounding soil; "I'd be reckoned a bungler by any experienced woo

bout as ignorant of all

legs w

ow you everything I know about these things, and pick up more myself i

the spot. Only a feller who was lookin' for the tag'd notice where we did it

e and Owen. Nobody must step back here again to le

aver. Step by step he retreated backward,

natural talent for this sort of thing. He utterly removed all the ashes, scattered some brush over the spot, and at the

ing any bouquets either. Ten to one Ted Shafter and his gang could land here, cook a meal

om the scene of his

ds, after a time he heard voice

Max stood for a few minutes watching his chums work, and smiling with pleasu

ear, it was next to impossible to discover the dingy old water

e by, affording all the water they would

smile gradually left his face, to be suc

teve at the time, it could be easily

ner or later. Of course it looks mighty queer just now, and I can't for the life of me understand it; but I've known Steve all my life,

quite free with his hearty compliments concerning the fi

while, "we're wasting time, you know. Some of us might

y. "And it's up to Max to s-s

ating Steve as his working partner on this occasion. In the first place he knew the impatient nature of the fiery

was n

ouple of hours would give Max a goo

on his comrades he might, without meaning to do so, let a hi

we fetched along to carry the

marked Toby, not a little disappointed because he had been passed over w

hem a couple of bags. Max also thought it

d be woodcock. I saw a marsh where I reckon I'll find some of the long-billed mud diggers. You know they get their food by sticking their bi

d reached the bank of the little river, ha

, removing shoes and socks, and rolling th

the shallow water, they began to poke carefully around in all

he first tri

too, believe me! Now, I wonder if he's going to present us with

ching his c

re than ever; and then raising his voice he went on to say: "You'll just have to take it out i

d'ye think, here's another of the blessed old shellfish, just poking

one yet; and here you're walking away from

d up in watching his chum that as ye

ere were times when the mussels came in

up-stream, crossing and re

is laugh announced another prize; "and believe me, we clean

or ten, I re

pretty badly disappointed if one out of the lot don't

mention that word so loud aga

like, Max, or is there a reason?" and Steve, as

imes even the trees and rocks have ears. And we don't

ng to make you think that w

g my gun over my back by the strap, and not leave it ashore. Sorry no

therers have got the nerve to sneak into our tent and make way with our first pearl, I reckon

busy agai

r lunch. And I s'pose the other feller's 'll want to have a try next time. Anyhow, you

mussels in his bag he did hate to give up the work the worst kind; bu

o tote along," Steve ad

you had no use fo

his P. M., and see what luck I

look at Bandy-legs, would you, Max? He sure acts