Immediately everybody became busy.

Old Jesse went away with a couple of the muskrats, and when he came back later he had them skinned and ready for cooking; an operation the boys watched with considerable uneasiness.

Finally the meal was ready, and they sat down.

The venison tasted prime, and the coffee was pretty good; at least it was hot, and on a cool day that counts for a good deal.

Jerry and Will watched their comrade bravely take a portion of the musquash.

“How is it?” asked Jerry, for there had not been enough of the venison after all to appease their appetites.

“Bully.  Just try for yourselves.  I’ve eaten much worse dishes right at home,” was the immediate reply of the stout-hearted Frank.

Old Jesse chuckled and gave him a look of appreciation.

Thereupon both of the others took a very dainty help, and with much hesitation tasted of the dish; but both came back for more, and in the end pronounced the new dish all right.

“Why, fellows,” said Frank, laughing, “it was the same with terrapin years ago.  People along the Eastern Shore used to consider the diamond-back as common as dirt.”

“So I was reading the other day,” admitted Jerry.

“Yes, sir, so common that when men hired out they stipulated in the bond that they were not to be fed on terrapin.  Then the fashionable people took a fancy for the dish, the supply ran low, and now a decent-sized terrapin is worth five dollars.  Perhaps muskrats may become popular the same way, who knows?” laughed Frank.

At which the trapper roared, seemingly thinking it a great joke.

He showed them how he took the skins off, and stretched them on his frames.

“Not too tight, boys; and then keep ’em in the open air in the shade, away from the fire, till they gits right dry.  Some we take off whole, an’ others is slit up, jest accordin’ to the kind.”

All this sort of thing was eagerly listened to, especially by Frank and Jerry, always interested in everything that pertained to hunting and wild animals.

Will had his mind bent upon one subject, and could not bear to think of anything else; in camp and out, he kept his eyes on the alert for subjects suitable for striking pictures with which to embellish his account of the outing trip.

So the afternoon began to wane almost before they were aware of it.

“Time we were making tracks for home, fellows,” announced Frank.

“What will Bluff and Toby think has become of us, I wonder,"’ said Will.

“Him?  Why, he’s forgotten we’re in existence.  He can never get that jay gun out of his mind.  Talk about your phonograph, he’s sure the worst repeater I ever heard, and that’s no fairy story,” grunted Jerry.

“Well, come along boys.  Jesse, you must run over and have dinner with us some afternoon.  We dine at night, you see.  Will you come?” asked Frank, shaking hands.