CHAPTER XV
THE WHOLE BAG OF GAME
THE daring quality of the idea made Tom Halstead tremulous.
He longed to return to the head of Lake Okeechobee with such a “noble” bag of game. Yet he was able to realize the risk that attended any such attempt.
“In reaching out for just one more,” he told himself, palpitatingly, “I may lose the whole lot. Sim will be unquestionably the hardest of the crowd to subdue. No, no; I reckon I’d better be content with my good luck up to date.”
Deciding thus, reluctantly, the young motor boat skipper prepared to cast off. It was his intention to get clear of the land by some little margin, then to start his gasoline motor with the least possible delay. He knew well enough that if Sim heard the motor going that big fellow was likely to come down to the water on the run.
“I’ve got all the menagerie I can train on the way back, anyway,” muttered the boy, dryly.
Just at that moment he heard someone come, crashingly, through the jungle.
“Jupiter! I’ve got to get that last one, or lose all I’ve got—my own liberty included!” flashed through the boy’s mind.
There was no help for it. Secretly half-glad, in his craze for more adventure, Tom stole swiftly, softly, across the open space.
“Now, you-all——” began Sim, in his loudest voice.