They all looked to Thad to decide that point.
“Since the chances are the boat will either be wrecked on some of these ugly jagged rocks that lie in wait all along the course, or else fall into the hands of boys who may be watching the flood for driftwood and such stuff, it seems all right to me to take what we want.”
“The right of first discoverers!” remarked Smithy grandly.
“There’s a piece of breakfast bacon, suh, hanging up behind the stove,” quickly announced Bob White, who apparently clung to the ways of his beloved South, where the ordinary salt pork is always called “bacon,” and the smoked sides go under the name he mentioned.
“And a package of grits as you call the fine hominy corn, in that box under the table, Bob, which ought to make you as happy as a king. What more could a fellow from Dixieland want more than hog and hominy?” Allan laughingly announced.
They gathered the things wanted near the door, and every scout knew exactly what his identical share of the burden was going to be. This was done so that if there should be any need for a hurried desertion of the boat there might not ensue any disastrous confusion that would cost them dearly.
“I reckon now the old cheese-box-on-a-raft would turn out too heavy for us to drag any further up on the shore, so even the wind couldn’t take her off?” Step Hen chanced to remark, after they had finished their preparations for departure, and huddled near the door, taking frequent observations concerning the state of the weather outside.
“I’m afraid so,” Thad returned, “though we might give it a try when we do drop ashore, and see what we can do. These scows weigh tons, you know, and get logy in the bargain from being so long in the water. We’d need a block and tackle to manage it decently.”
“Well, it’s a pity we didn’t think to bring one along, then,” commented innocent Smithy, at which remark the rest set up a yell.
“I can see you staggering along with the whole outfit on your back, Smithy,” he was told by Giraffe; “why, the blocks alone would faze you, not to mention the rope itself. If you’ve got a boat to carry it in, then it’s all right to have the same along. But we started off light on this trip, you remember.”