“To tell the truth,” admitted the minister, frankly, “I consider that I showed most wonderful sagacity in fetching along additional supplies with me, because if I stir up any more appetite than I seem to have to-night there’ll be a terrible drain on your stock of provisions.”
“Oh! we know where there’s a farm only two miles away,” said Phil, “and to-morrow half a dozen of us have been detailed by Mr. Bartlett to tramp over there and get all the eggs and fresh butter and such things we can lug back with us.”
“And as long as those dandy bass are willing to take our minnows,” added Peg, “we ought to keep the wolf from the door, somehow or other.”
After the meal they piled high the campfire, and when the dishes had been looked after every one sat around in various attitudes, either taking part in the brisk conversation or listening to what Mr. Holwell and the camp leaders said in the way of congratulation and advice.
Finally, several were discovered surreptitiously yawning, and Dick realized that the bed hour had arrived. So interesting had the talk been that none of them had paid any attention to the flight of time.
“Where am I going to sleep?” asked Mr. Holwell, when Harry Bartlett explained that nine o’clock was the hour set in the camp for retiring. Moreover, they had put in a strenuous day from before sunrise, and consequently all the boys were tired.
“We have provided a cot in the tent we occupy, Mr. Holwell,” explained the physical director. “Some of the boys have made us a small table for our few toilet articles, shaving things, and such. Besides, we have a couple of folding chairs. Only for a shortage of tents we should have been glad to give you one to yourself, sir.”
The minister shook his head vigorously at that.
“I am glad you didn’t,” he told them, smilingly. “I am no tenderfoot when it comes to camping, you will find; for in days that are past I wandered over many parts of the world, and even faced many perils. I have slept in the igloo of an Esquimau, as well as under the haircloth tent of a desert Bedouin. I would never stand for being given accommodations that differed in any degree from those of the boys.”
When they heard him say that, some of the campers felt like shouting their appreciation, only this early in the outing they had come to understand that boisterous ways must be kept under control.