njoy anything
half so much as making whittlings for a blaze. You go along with your
silly pictures, Davy, and let me alone. Thad's keeping an eye on me, all
right. And I haven't got a single match about me, you know."

Supper was finally in preparation. The bass had been neatly cleaned by
those who had caught them, Step-hen and Smithy; and for the first time
in his life no doubt, the pampered son of the rich widow found himself
doing the work of a cook's helper. Whether he fancied it or not,
Step-hen declared that he did his work neatly, and fairly fast; which
compliment made Smithy's light blue eyes shine with real pleasure. He
had entered into a new life, and was evidently resolved to pursue it
further, taking the bitter with the sweet.

But of course the fish did not constitute the only food they had.
Healthy appetites like those possessed by the eight scouts could not
fare on fish alone. Thad, for instance, cared very little for fresh
water bass, though fond of catching them. And he saw to it that a large
can of corned beef was opened, together with one containing succotash,
out of which he constructed a savory dish which he called the canoeists'
stew.

Then besides they had stewed prunes, together with a kettle of boiled
rice, over which those who preferred it could sprinkle sugar, and wet
down with the evaporated cream which was carried in sealed tins.

Given the voracious appetites which healthy boys usually carry along
with them into camp, and it was amazing how this mess vanished. And
Giraffe, as he scraped the kettle that had contained the stew, remarked
that the only mistake made on the trip had been in providing too small
cooking utensils.

"Make your mind easy, Giraffe," said Davy; "next time we'll fetch along
all our mothers' preserving kettles. Fact is, there must be times when
even a wash boiler looks about the regulation size, to you!"

"That's mean of you, Davy," remarked Giraffe, when he could make himself
heard above the roars of laughter. "Just because I happen to have a
better appetite than the rest of you, is no reason you should keep on
joking a feller about it. You eat twice as much as Smithy here, and yet
you think that's nothing. Well, I happen to be able to go a little
further than _you_, that's all. Nothing to be ashamed of, is it, Thad?"

"Oh! the boys must have their fun, Giraffe; and if you're wise you'll
laugh with them," Thad remarked. "When they find it doesn't bother you,
the