“I agree, and that ends it,” said Jerry, as he squeezed the other’s hand.

CHAPTER XXV

BREAKING CAMP

And they had bear steak for supper.

Honestly, none of them thought a great deal of the treat, only that it seemed to be the proper thing for hunters to enjoy the results of their prowess with their guns.

Bluff was the happiest chap in camp, unless Will be excepted; he fondled that recovered gun almost the whole evening, and while Jerry winced every time he saw it, he dared not lift up his voice in protest after the great work which the so-called Gatling gun had done in the hands of a greenhorn.

Jerry with all his skill in the line of shooting had never been given the opportunity to kill a bear, and he felt that the time had gone by for him to class Bluff as a “come-on.”

They spent a joyful evening, though, going over the exciting incidents of the last forty-eight hours again and again.

“And to think that we have only been up here a few days, boys.  Why, if this sort of thing keeps on at this rate during our two weeks’ stay, whatever in the world am I going to do for more films?” asked Will, plaintively.

“Keep the balance for especially good subjects,” said Jerry, carelessly.

“Yes, but sometimes, you know, the best pictures are those you fail to get.  Now, there was that one with you hanging to that ladder, I’ll never get over my disappointment about losing that.  Whenever anything of that sort crops up again, I hope nobody will steal my camera.”

“Talk to me about dogged perseverance, this fellow certainly has ’em all beat to a frazzle,” said Jerry, with an injured air, “I expect next he’ll be proposing that we go back to that old shaft, and while I hang by my teeth to that blessed, shaky ladder, he will crack off a few views of the circus.  Don’t you dare propose that, or I’ll forget my promise to be good, and begin to hide things again!”

“Oh! all right, I won’t mention it, only it’s a shame, that’s what, when any fellow in these days refuses to put himself out a little just to oblige a friend, and interest posterity,” grumbled Will.

They stayed up until quite late, singing songs of school and college life, and having a happy time.  Not one among the four dreamed of the shadow that was even then hovering over Kamp Kill Kare.

There was no alarm that night, for which one and all felt grateful.  This thing of being aroused out of a sound sleep to have the covers whipped off by a roaring gale may read all very nice, but the reality is quite a different matter.  And when wild animals invade the peaceful camp it strikes one as very funny in print, but is apt to bring about a chilly feeling when encountered in real life.

As usual, Frank was the first one up, and he soon had the camp astir with his cheery calls.  The nipping, frosty air proclaimed that now the Fall had come in earnest, and that they would be glad after this to keep a fire burning during each night, for warmth.