“We’ve got to extend the fire belt, and make several more like the one you’ve got going,” replied Thad, laying his gun down, so that he might busy himself. “Here are plenty of branches, and all sorts of good burning stuff. If only Giraffe were with us now, wouldn’t he be in his glory, though?”
“Well,” said Step Hen, slowly; “he might; and again, perhaps Giraffe don’t like wolves any better than I do. And he gets so rattled too, whenever he’s nervous. I try to take things as cool as anything. What’s the use getting excited, when it ain’t agoin’ to help a single bit. And I know you’ll say the same, eh, Thad?”
“You never spoke truer words, Step Hen,” replied the scoutmaster, gravely; and yet secretly he was shaking with laughter, because everybody knew that Step Hen was the worst offender in that line the patrol boasted; so that it seemed almost as “good as a circus,” Thad afterwards declared, to hear him talk in this way.
They worked diligently, and soon managed to not only extend the fire so as to take in three more points, and thus completely surround the spot where they had dumped the packs of venison; but to secure quite a supply of fuel besides, with which to feed the flames from time to time.
“Now what?” again demanded Step Hen, when he saw that his companion meant to call a halt upon these proceedings.
“Supper is the next thing on the programme,” observed Thad. “I feel just like enjoying some of that same venison. It will not only make us feel stronger, but considerably lighten our loads when we take a notion to go on again.”
“Count me in on that deal; because, honest Injun now, I’m that empty my stomach feels like it wanted to shake hands with my backbone. Say, this must be a real hunter’s feast, Thad. I never went through such an experience as this before. And just listen to the nerve of them rascals, ahowlin’ themselves hoarse, just because we object to sharing our grub pile with ’em. D’ye suppose, now, we’ll have to knock over a few of the pesky varmints, as old Eli calls ’em.”
“I wouldn’t be one bit surprised,” replied Thad; and the other noticed that he did not move in the least without making sure that his gun was within reach; from which it was evident that Thad had no intention of being caught unprepared, should the hungry wolves make a sudden dash.
Of course Step Hen was next to totally ignorant as to how to cook meat without the frying-pan to which he had been accustomed. And he watched just how Thad did it, closely imitating him.
Taking a stout and fairly long sliver of wood, a small piece of the meat was secured to one end, after which the other point was thrust into the ground in such a position that the meat came pretty near a place where the embers burned red, and glowed invitingly. Presently the heat began to make the meat sizzle, and then it slowly cooked, turning a delightful brown color, and sending out odors that made the boys fairly shiver with eagerness to start eating.