The Go Ahead Boys in the Island Camp Part 36

"Stop that," cried Fred fiercely, hitting George sharply in the ribs with his fist.

"What's the matter with you two?" exclaimed Grant. He turned quickly around and eyed his two companions narrowly.

"I choked," stammered George. "I couldn't help it."

"If you've been fooling me you'll do worse than choke," muttered Grant fiercely. "You two are acting very queerly it seems to me."

"Because I choked?" demanded George. "I don't see what there is queer about that."

"Will you swear you saw a heron here?" demanded Grant.

"I will," exclaimed Fred. "I declare to you, Grant, there was one here.

We saw him first down by that point where I showed you."

"He's not there now," said Grant. "That much is sure."

"He may have moved along you know. Just because he isn't in that same spot doesn't mean that he has left."

"Well, I don't see him anyway."

"Let me look," exclaimed George. "My eyes are better than yours."

Grant exchanged places with George who now seemed to have recovered from his recent affliction; he scanned the nearby marsh eagerly and was quiet and serious now.

"Well?" demanded Grant after a moment had elapsed.

George turned and looked at the speaker. "Come here," he whispered, crooking his finger mysteriously.

Grant, much excited now, crowded up close beside George. Together they peered out across the swamp.

"See that dead log lying on the beach down there?" inquired George.

"Yes."

"Do you see anything the other side of it?"

"No."

"Not a thing?"

"I don't see anything but the old dead limb of a tree sticking up."

"That's not a dead limb, Grant."

"Sure enough," cried Grant excitedly. "Say," he exclaimed, "I saw that thing before but I thought it was a stick."

"It's not though," said George triumphantly. "It's a heron and Fred and I accept your apology for all you've thought about us."

"Why doesn't it move?" demanded Grant.

"Don't you know that herons often stand like that for a long, long time?

If you're going to shoot that fellow you'd better get a move on yourself though."

"I can't hit him from here."

"Don't try. Sneak up closer."

"Give me the gun, Grant," exclaimed Fred. "If you don't care anything about shooting him I'd like a try at it myself."

"No, you don't," said Grant quickly, and rising to his feet he crouched low and began to run swiftly down towards the sh.o.r.e of the lake.

"Follow those bushes along the sh.o.r.e," directed George. "Don't let him see you, whatever you do."

"He's all right so far," said Fred. "He's got good protection down as far as the water anyway."

"I hope he gets it," exclaimed John eagerly. "He's certainly a good shot and that ought to help some."

"Oh, he'll get it all right," said George. He and Fred looked at each other for a moment and then both burst into silent but uncontrollable laughter.

"What's the matter with you two?" demanded John, completely taken aback by their strange behavior.

"Oh, String," said George. "If you only knew."

"Well, why don't you tell me?" exclaimed John. "What sort of a game have you put up on Grant anyway?"

"Do you see that heron he's after?"

"Yes, of course I do."

"Well, it's dead. Fred and I found it on the sh.o.r.e and stuck it up behind that log. Just wait till Grant finds it out," and the two conspirators hugged each other delightedly.

CHAPTER XXV-THE WORM TURNS

Meanwhile Grant was stalking his game. He crouched low and making as much speed as was consistent with quietness, he hurried along.

"Just look at him!" cried George ecstatically, as now and again the hunter could be seen to stop and peer cautiously in the direction of his prey.

"I should think the fact that it hasn't moved would make him suspicious," remarked John.

"He thinks herons always act that way," chuckled Fred. "I can hardly wait for him to shoot."

"You follows nearly queered your whole game a couple of times all right," said John. "We were both suspicious of you. Why, twice you had grins on your faces so long you could almost pin them in the back."

"It was so funny," laughed George. "To think how we planned the whole thing and how easily he fell into it. Why, it was almost too easy."