-by, bacon and eggs and coffee,
and--"

"I know what I am going to have," interrupted Margery. "I'm going to
have some custard. I haven't had any custard since I left home."

"Can you make it?" asked the guardian.

"Of course I can."

"You are quite sure of that?" teased Harriet.

"I guess I know. I've made it ever so many times. You will like it, if
you get a chance to eat any of it. I am making this for myself."

"Thelfithh," jeered Tommy. "Make me thome plum pudding and thome angel
food while you are about it. I jutht love angel food and plum duff, ath
my father callth it."

"Custard is good enough for you, Tommy Thompson," laughed Margery. "May
I make the custard, Miss Elting?"

The guardian nodded smilingly.

"If you think you can."

"I'll show you. Where are the milk and the eggs and the other things?"

"The milk is in that pail that hangs over the side at the other end of
the boat. The eggs are in the paper box behind the stove. The rest of
your materials are in the supply box. As for water, there is a lake full
of it, enough to make custard for the whole world," remarked Miss
Elting.

"Now you are teasing me--and you, too, Harriet. You will be glad I
thought of it, however, after you have tasted the custard."

"After I have tasted it, yes," returned Harriet significantly.

That there was some hidden meaning in Harriet's remark, Margery well
knew. That was as near as she got to understanding just then. Later on
she understood more fully.

"I am afraid you haven't time to make the custard for supper," added
Harriet.

"It will do for dessert later in the evening. We don't have to eat
everything all at once, you know." Margery was in a flurry of
importance, over the idea of making the custard. Tommy, despite her
apparent indifference, was eagerly waiting for the custard. It was one
of her favorite dishes.

Buster broke the eggs in an agate dish, then added the milk, a cupful
for each person. The eggs, of course, had first been beaten up and the
sugar added. Harriet, with her skirt pinned up, was frying bacon and
potatoes until the smoke in the cabin was so thick as to drive out those
who were not actively engaged in getting the supper. Harriet and Margery
stuck to their posts, Tommy Thompson watched the operations from the
deck, now and then coughing to remind them that she was there.

"There, I think everything is ready," announced Buster. "How soon are
you going to finish with the oil stove