“Oh, no, I can climb it easy enough,” boasted Billy.
“Bill’s climbed higher and worse trees than this one,” added Fred.
“Well, seein’ he’s the best climber in the bunch I’ll let him use my kodak if he wants to shinny up and try for a close-up picture,” offered Paul.
“That’ll be great! and I can add another one to my list of wild-bird photographs,” said Billy, delightedly.
“For me too,” said Paul.
“Why, no, it won’t count for you unless you climb up and get it,” remonstrated Dudley.
An argument followed that made Paul sulky but Billy paid little attention to him as he took the kodak and climbed up the giant spruce.
There was a thick tangle of undergrowth all about the tree and the boys had had to break through this before reaching the spruce. So intent were Fred and Dudley in watching Billy go higher and ever higher, that they failed to note Paul’s absence.
Paul, with his impatient and stubborn nature, felt so piqued at the idea of not being able to claim the coup after offering the use of his kodak, started away from the boys in a huff. The boys never dreamed of his anger or envy over the coup winning so did not trouble to look over or beyond the jungle of brush. While Paul, be it said to his credit, forgot all about Uncle Bill’s admonition and the promise made not to wander away from the others.
He finally reached a small promontory of land that jutted out into the sea. As he walked out on the upthrust, a white strip of sandy beach was found to be lying snugly at the bottom of the bluff. About a hundred feet across from the place where the boy stood, another large finger of high-land ran out from the shore actually making a secluded little cove of the beach.