"Reminds you of what?" asked Ned. "There you go again, beginning a thing and not finishing it." "I guess I'll not say it. Doesn't make any difference," and Frank turned aside and gazed out of the window. Bart and Ned looked at each other. It was a peculiarity of Frank's to begin to say something, and then seem to recollect a matter that made him change his mind. But his chums were now used to his strangeness. "Where'd you get that gun, Bart?" asked Fenn as he came in with the cake. "Saw it advertised in a catalog, and sent to New York for it." "How much?" "Eighteen dollars. It was the first money I used of the thousand I got from the 'King of Paprica'"--for such was the assumed name of the principal man in the mystery the boys had cleared up. "From New York, eh?" spoke Ned. "That reminds me I have an invitation to visit my uncle and aunt there." "That's so. You asked us to come and see you," added Bart. "Wish we could go around Christmas time." "If the holiday vacation was longer maybe we could," remarked Ned. "Speaking of holidays, what's the matter with going hunting the end of next week?" asked Bart. "I've got my gun, and you fellows have your small rifles." "I can borrow a shotgun," put in Fenn. "This is Thursday," went on Bart. "School closes to-morrow for the Thanksgiving celebration. Let's see, Thanksgiving is a week from to-day. That would give us three days counting Monday, when we can start off. Why not go on a shooting trip and stay a couple of nights in the woods? It's not very cold, and we could take plenty of blankets." "The very thing!" cried Ned. CHAPTER III OFF IN THE WOODS The town of Darewell, though situated near the center of a well-populated district, presented many advantages to the boys. There was the river to fish in, and it was a deep enough stream to accommodate steamers and barges up to a certain point. In addition there was, about five miles from the place, the beginning of a stretch of unbroken forest, seldom visited, and which in season contained much game. It was a favorite hunting spot, but had not been over-run with gunners. The boys had, in past summers, camped along the river and in the woods, but they had not penetrated far into the forest, as there were few roads or trails through it. "Have we got everything?" asked Fenn, as they stood in the front yard of Bart's house, early the next Monday morning. "I guess so," Ned replied. "I looked after the blankets and such stuff, Bart saw to the tent and Frank to the portable stove and fixings. I suppose you've got the food all packed, Stumpy?" "Everything." "Didn't forget the salt, did you, the way you did when we went camping before and had to borrow of a tramp?" "There's lots of salt." "How about condensed milk?" asked Bart. "Remember how you dropped it in the river that day?" "Do I? And how Ned howled because he had to drink black coffee."