"I notice that you both kill your fish as you get 'em," remarked Tom.

"I wouldn't think of doing anything else," said in reply Jack. "It only takes asmart rap with a club on the head to end their sufferings. I'd hate tothink of even a fish dying by inches, and flapping all over the boat orthe ground, as it gasps its life away. That's one of the things scoutsare taught--to be humane sportsmen, giving the game a chance, whetherfish, flesh or fowl, and not inflicting any unnecessary suffering."

"Wonder if anything's happened in camp since we came away; becauseBobolink and I have been gone nearly an hour," remarked Tom Betts, tochange the subject; for his conscience reproved him with regard to thematter Jack was speaking about.

"What makes you think that?" asked Paul, suspiciously.

"0h! nothing; only things seem to be on the jump with us right now; and afellow can't turn around without bumping into a wild man, or some bogusmoney-makers, it seems. P'raps the ghost'll show up next. Listen! wasn'tthat somebody trying to blow your bugle, Bobolink, that you left hung upin the tent?"

"It sure was, for a fact. Let's start on a run, fellows. Mebbe they'vegone and grabbed that wild man! P'raps he was bent on carryin' off thewhole outfit this time. You never can tell what a crazy man'll do next;that's the hard part of being a keeper in a queer house, where they keepa lot of that kind; anyhow a man told me that once who'd been there. Butlisten to that scout trying to sound the recall, would you? Whoop her up,boys; there's _something_ happened, as sure as you live!"

CHAPTER XV