, by the way you paddle. You'll
get to the lake before noon at this rate."

"Not much danger of that, Davie," returned Wyn. "And you know we agreed
to stop at Ware's Island for lunch."

"Oh, I wish that was right here!" grunted a voice from the rear, where
Tubby Blaisdell was paddling away with almost as much splashing as a
small side-wheel steamer.

"My goodness, boy!" cried Ferd Roberts. "You're not hungry so soon, are
you?"

"Soon?" repeated Tubby, with disgust "It's so long since breakfast that
I've forgotten what I had to eat."

"What do you want to eat, Tubby?" asked Frank, giggling.

"Not particular. Anything--from a marshmallow cake to a tough steak,"
grunted the fat boy.

"Tubby wouldn't be as particular as the grouchy gentleman who went into
the restaurant out West and ordered a steak," chuckled Dave. "After the
waiter brought it the customer tried his knife on it and then called the
waiter back.

"'Say!' he objected. 'This steak isn't tender enough.'

"'Not tender enough, stranger?' returned the cowboy waiter. 'What d'you
expect? Want it to hug an' kiss yer?'"

When the laugh on Tubby had subsided Professor Skillings said, with a
twinkle in his eye:

"Our friend, Blaisdell, should be able to exist some time on his
accumulation of fat. He ought not to seriously suffer from hunger as
yet."

"Like a camel living on its hump--eh?" said Wyn. "How about that,
Tubby?"

"I'm no relation to a camel--I tell you that," snorted the fat boy, with
disgust.

"Then Mr. Blaisdell might imitate some insects; mightn't he, Professor
Skillings?" suggested Frank, with a sly look. "You know there are
insects that live on nothing."

"On nothing?" exclaimed the professor, quickly. "Oh, no, young lady, you
are mistaken. That is quite impossible."

"But, Professor! A moth lives on nothing; doesn't it?"

"No, indeed. How could that be?" cried the scientific gentleman, greatly
perturbed by Frank's apparent display of ignorance.

"Why, moths eat holes; don't they?" chortled Frank. "Surely 'holes' are
a pretty slim diet."

Professor Skillings led the laughter himself over this simple joke. But
he added:

"I fear I should not be able to interest you in science, Frances."

"Not in summer, sir--oh, never!" cried Frank. "I refuse to learn a
single, living thing until school opens again next fall."

In spite of Tubby's complaints, the canoeing party sighted Ware Island
in good season for luncheon. This was a low,