I'll lie down and give my digestion a chance,"
and in a few minutes he was peacefully snoring.

The next morning he showed no ill effects from the prodigious feast, but
ate his usual hearty breakfast. The others were forced to the conclusion
that his table ability was even greater than they had suspected, and
from that time on they firmly believed him to be invincible in his
particular department.

By this time they were thoroughly familiar with the camp, and decided to
make an excursion into the woods the following day, taking lunch with
them and making it a day's outing. The cook so far departed from his
usual iron-clad rules as to make them up a fine lunch, making due
allowance for Jimmy's proven capacity.

They started out immediately after breakfast. Not being particular as to
direction, they followed the first old logging road that they came to.
It led them deeper and deeper into the forest that was alive with the
sounds and scents of spring. Last year's fallen leaves made a springy
carpet underfoot, while robins sang their spring song in the budding
branches overhead.

For some time the boys tramped in silence, breathing deeply of the
exhilarating pine and balsam atmosphere and at peace with all the world.
Soon there was a glint of water through the trees, and the boys, with
one accord, diverged from the faint trail that they had been following
and were a few minutes later standing at the water's edge.

They found themselves on the shore of a large lake. It was ringed about
with big trees, many of which leaned far out over it as though to gaze
at their reflections in the water. The ripples lapped gently on a
sloping sandy beach, and the invitation to swim proved irresistible to
all but Jimmy.

"I know what lake water is like at this time of year," he said. "You
fellows can go in and freeze yourselves all you like, but I'll stay
right here and look after the things. Just dive right in and enjoy
yourselves."

"Well, we won't coax you," said Bob. "But that water looks too good to
miss. It is pretty cold, but I guess that won't kill us."

Off came their clothes, and with shouts and laughter they splashed
through the shallow water and struck out manfully. The icy water made
them gasp at first, but soon the reaction came, and they thoroughly
enjoyed their swim. They tried to coax Jimmy in, but he lay flat on his
back under a tree and was adamant to all their pleadings.

The others did not stay in very long,