"Rather knocks the breath out of a fellow," returned Shep. "Take care that you don't sprain an ankle, Whopper."
"That's what I'm watching out for. I don't want my whole outing spoiled."
After a large amount of hard walking and climbing they managed to cover about half the distance to Firefly Lake. But by that time both were so exhausted the doctor's son called a halt.
"No use of killing ourselves," he said. "We can't go any farther than the lake to-day, anyway."
"Hope Snap and Giant wait for us at the mouth of the river," said
Whopper. "I don't want to tramp along the lake shore afoot."
"Oh, they'll wait, and mostly likely start a camp."
"Say, if I remember rightly the river makes a bend to the right here," went on Whopper after a pause. "And if that is so, what's the matter with our striking inland a short distance and cutting off some of the walk?"
"I'm willing—-anything to reach Firefly Lake before it gets too dark to see."
Having rested themselves, the boys commenced to draw away from the river shore, taking to the woods, where the walking was easier. It was now close to six o'clock, and the sun was going down over the trees to the westward.
"Hope they have supper ready by the time we get there," said Whopper after a period of silence. "This transit is making me as hungry as a bear."