n."

"There he comes now, stumping along. Bet you he's sniffed some of
these delicious smells away up at the house. Larry, if you don't get a
move on, and announce dinner pretty soon, I declare if I don't start a
raid on the grub. Can't stand for much more of this," and Elephant
hugged himself as though it were only by a determined effort that he
refrained from beginning work then and there.

"Hold on five minutes more, old chap," soothed the cook. "Everything's
ready, and as soon as Frank gives the word we'll sit down."

To enjoy the meal all the more they had taken the table outdoors, and
places for half a dozen had been made ready. The sun had set, but
there would be light for an hour at least, plenty to last them during
the meal.

The old traveler they seated at the head of the table, and Frank was
made to take the other end. Then Larry and his assistants set to work
dishing up. As the lovely aluminum set only carried enough for four,
Andy had been compelled to call upon his reserves for additional
plates, cups and such things.

And that dinner was surely worth remembering. Larry had certainly
"done himself proud," as the delighted Colonel declared, after he had
eaten until he could no longer do justice to the spread.

After the things had been cleared away they started the veteran to
dipping into certain of his recollections; and once he was set going,
he might be likened to a clock, for being wound up, adventure after
adventure fell from his lips in a way to keep the listeners charmed.

Not that the Colonel was a boaster at all; he never assumed that he had
done anything at all wonderful; but just related facts in his simple
though dramatic way, and those who heard could draw their own
inferences.

The boys would never forget that evening, or the feast that Larry put
before them. It would ever be marked by a white stone in their
memories; and doubtless in after years, when fully launched upon the
more serious avenues of life, more than one of them would look back
with a smile as the picture arose in their minds' eye, with that
white-haired old man sitting near by, and thrilling them with his
recollections of the past.

It was long after ten when he bade them good-night, and betook himself
off to the house, his last words being:

"Don't forget that your Uncle Josiah is coming like a runaway engine if
so be that bell sounds the alarm! And to tell you the truth, boys, I'm
half wishing it might