"Want to take a squint at his tracks; eh, Paul?" asked Jud.

"No harm done if we do," remarked Bobolink, thus declaring his intentionof being one of those who were to accompany the leader.

Jack also went along, and Jud, making four in all; but the last mentionedrefused to budge a leg until he had obtained a healthy-looking club,which he tucked under his arm.

"Now, I want to warn that same critter to keep his distance from me," Judsaid, as he led off with long strides. "He gave me one scare, and Ipromise you that if he tries that game again there's going to be a hottime around these regions. But I reckon he's satisfied with all our nicefish, and we won't see anything of him until he gets good and hungryagain. Wonder if he eats 'em raw, Chinese fashion, or has some way ofmaking a fire?"

"What's that over yonder?" asked Paul.

"Where?" gasped Jud, brandishing his club.

"Looks like a string of fish; and so, you see, the ferocious man didn't get_all_ you fellows caught. We'll just pick that lot up, and trot along,"observed Paul.

"He got mine, all right; these must have been what one of the otherfellows had. You see, they were so badly rattled they just cut and run,and held on to their rods only. Yep, there's a second string of fish, andthat accounts for both; but you needn't think mine'll be laying around,for he got 'em.