Afterwards they rested a little while, and then the camp leader set them all certain tasks. Several commenced to patch the roof of one of the cabins, which was found to be in a leaky condition. Others aired such blankets as had got wet—those which had been in the bundles carried in the boat at the time the storm overtook the voyagers.
Still more of the boys were engaged in cutting wood. Here Eddie Grant and his two chums showed that they were quite at home, for they had long ago learned to use an axe as well as most wood-choppers. In fact, Eddie confessed he had actually spent a winter in a logging camp assisting the cook, and in that way learned many things that promised to be useful now.
Leslie and Dick were looking over the stock of provisions, so that their supplies might be kept track of, the camp leader having delegated this task to them.
“There may be wild animals around here, for all we know,” Dick was saying, “and on that account we’ll make sure to keep things safe. It would be mighty disappointing if we woke up some morning and found that a bear had carried off our entire stock of smoked hams and bacon, or spilt the bags of flour so we couldn’t have the flap-jacks Sunny Jim has promised to make for us at breakfast time.”
“By the way, Dick,” remarked Leslie, lowering his voice as he glanced toward the spot where several of the boys were carrying in armfuls of wood, Humbert Loft among the number, though he carefully brushed himself off each time, “Humbert is showing signs of being a boy after all.”
“Did he turn to and help when you landed, and found so much to do?” asked Dick.
“Just what he did, as well as he could with his dainty ways. You see, Dick, it’s got to be second nature with him to be eternally brushing himself off. He hates the sight of dirt, which is just the opposite of some boys. But then Humbert has been made a sissy by his uncle and his aunts. He should have been called Geraldine or something like that. Still, I will say he did a heap better than I ever thought he would.”
“Give him half a chance, Leslie,” urged Dick. “In spite of his superior airs and high-flown language I think he’s a boy after all. What you saw was a glimpse of the real nature showing under all the veneer they’ve plastered on him. For years this thing of ‘cultuah’ as he calls it has been drilled into the poor chap, so that he just can’t help it if he acts the way he does.”
“Well, I certainly hope he wakes up real soon then,” asserted Leslie; “because some of the fellows say they won’t stand for his lofty ways much longer. A ducking a day would wash some of it out of him, according to my notion. My father says that true culture brings simplicity, and what Humbert’s got is snobbery.”
The afternoon wore on, and much was accomplished. It is true the camp did not present such a trim appearance as Mr. Bartlett intended should be the case; but then they would have most of another day before Mr. Holwell arrived.