“We’re glad you came along,” came from Fred. “We want to ask you something about hunting. I’ve got a new double-barreled shotgun and so has Joe, and we want to go out somewhere and try for big game.” “And I’ve got a new camera, and I want to get some pictures of live game,” added Harry. “You can’t get any big game around Lakeport. If you want anything worth while you’ll have to go out for several days or a week.” “We’re willing to go out as long as our folks will let us,” explained Harry. “We haven’t said much about it yet, for we wanted to see you.” “We thought you might like to take us out, or rather go with us,” came from Joe. “If you’d go with us we’d pay the expenses of the trip, and give you your full share of whatever game we managed to bring down.” At this Joel Runnell’s gray eyes twinkled. He loved boys, and knew the lads before him very well. All the powder and shot he used came from Mr. Rush’s hardware establishment, and his flour from the Westmore mill, and he was always given his own time in which to pay for the articles. Moreover, he was not the one to forget the service Joe had rendered his daughter. “I’ll go out with you willingly,” he said. “I’ll show you all the big game I can, and what you bring down shall be yours.” “Hurrah! It’s settled!” cried Fred, throwing up his cap. “We’ll have just the best time that ever was!” “Where do you want to go to?” “I was thinking of camping out up on Pine Island,” answered Harry. “But of course we have got to see my father about it first.” “Pine Island is a nice place. There is an old lodge up there—put up five years ago by some hunting men from Boston. It’s a little out of repair, but we could fix it up, and then use that as a base of supplies.” “Just the thing!” said Joe, enthusiastically. “If we liked it would you stay out with us for two or three weeks?” “To be sure. There is a little game on the island, and we could easily skate to shore when we wished. When do you want to go?” “As soon as we get permission,” said Harry. “We’ll find out about it to-morrow.” After that the boys could talk of nothing but the proposed outing and what they hoped to bring down in the way of game. Harry wanted pictures worse than he wanted to bring down game; nevertheless, he said he would take along a gun and a pistol. “Then I can snapshot my bear first, and shoot him afterward,” he said. It was not until the day after Christmas that the Westmore lads got a chance to speak to their parents about what was uppermost in their minds. At first Mrs. Westmore was inclined to demur, but her husband said the outing might do their sons some good. “And they couldn’t go out with a better fellow than Joel Runnell,” added Mr. Westmore. “They’ll be as safe with him as they would be with me.”