He cudgeled his brains to try to remember, so as to place himself.
"Say! Perhaps I am lost, all right," he remarked, with a laugh, for it did not look at all serious just then, but more like a joke.
Then he suddenly remembered that he had the only boat.
"If they wanted to hunt for me they couldn't do it. To move about in this swamp without a boat would be impossible; that is, for a stranger; and the launch could never come here. Guess I'll shoot up a few and get my points."
So saying, he banged away three times.
Presently there was an answering series of shots, but very far distant.
"Whew! I didn't dream I'd gone so far," he said, and having noted the direction from which the sounds seemed to come, he started to paddle hard.
After half an hour's work he halted, tired, and perspiring freely.
"This is no fun, I tell you. Wonder if I'm anywhere near? I might try again."
This time there was no answer. The wind possibly kept those in camp from hearing the fusilade. Will began to grow alarmed. It was now high noon, and he felt hungry, so he disposed of the lunch he had carried, at Bluff's suggestion. Incidentally, he blessed his chum for thinking of such a thing.