rowned in the pan, and proved a great
hit with the three boys, there was boiled rice, baked potatoes,
warmed-up corned beef (from the tin), and finally as dessert sliced
peaches, the California variety; besides the customary coffee, without
which a meal in camp would seem decidedly poor.

All of them fairly "stuffed" after the manner of vigorous boys with not
a care in the wide world, and plenty more food where that came from.
After supper was over they had to lie around and take things easy for a
while, inventing all manner of excuses for so doing, when in reality not
one of them felt capable of moving.

"I must say the bass up the river seem to taste a whole lot better than
down our way," remarked Toby, reflectively. "Sometimes when I've fetched
a string home with me, and the cook prepared them for the table they had
what seemed like a muddy flavor. It may have been because the river ran
high just then, and this affected the fish more or less."

"Don't you believe it," snapped Steve, philosophically. "The difference
was in the surroundings, and the kind of _appetite_ you had. No
matter if a fellow does think he's hungry at home, when he sits down to
a white tablecloth, and silver, and cut-glass, and all that sort of
stuff it sort of dulls the edge of his appetite. Then again he has to
just wait his turn to be served, and mustn't forget his table manners if
he knows what's good for him. But say, up in the woods he can just
revert back to the habits of primeval man from whose loins he sprang,
and his appetite compares to that of the wolf. Oh! things do taste
altogether different, somehow or other; and meals seem an _awful_
long time apart."

"What's on your mind, Toby?" asked Jack, a short time afterwards, when
he noticed the other looking pensive, as though his thoughts might be
busy.

"Oh! I was only wondering whether we'd hear that queer old booming sound
again tonight, that's all, Jack; and mebbe, too, I was trying to figure
out just how _he_ manages to make it."

Jack smiled.

"Everything comes to him who waits, Toby," he said, simply; "and so
don't worry yourself about things yet awhile. Let me shoulder the
burden; if it gets too heavy a load for one fellow to carry be sure I'll
call on you two for help."

Then he deftly guided the conversation into other channels. There was
plenty to talk about, for these were observing lads, who kept their eyes
open no matter where they might be; and every little while