This might be called the first "fireless cooker." It is the very principle upon which all those now on the market are constructed; and, indeed, the bottles that are guaranteed to keep their contents hot for twenty-four hours are fashioned on some similar lines for retaining the heat.
For six hours now had those spring roasters been in "hot storage," as Landy called it, and many were the appeals to Elmer to know if they would be ready by the time they had the corn and other things done.
The afternoon was wasting away. In another hour the sun would be setting. Elmer was busying himself at the fire with Ty, who claimed to be something of a cook and had proved this on various occasions. Ted was overhauling the little case of remedies, without which he seldom went anywhere. Adam and Landy had taken a small camera, loaned by one of the other members of the troop, a tall scout known to his chums as "Lil Artha," and with this they expected to take a few snapshots of the camp, the picturesque river as seen in the afternoon glow, and such things as appeal to the average boy looking around for subjects on which to execute his skill as a photographer.
They could be heard rummaging among the bushes not far away, and Landy seemed to be getting more or less fun out of the German tenderfoot, who was utterly new to the ways of the American woods, however familiar he might be with any species of water.
Elmer had just made up his mind, after a sly investigation on his own account, that the chickens were deliciously done, and hence there need be no further delay about starting the balance of the dinner, when he heard Landy's rather whining voice approaching, and raised his head to watch.
When the two came into camp it was noticed that Adam seemed to be leading his companion, who was acting rather queer. At first Elmer wondered whether the fat boy could have been overcome by the heat, for his face was unusually red. Then he saw that Landy seemed anxious to dig his knuckles into his eyes.
"What's the matter, Landy?" asked Ty, whose attention had also been directed to the incoming pair.
"I declare if I know what to make of it, fellows," said the fat boy, as he stood there, trying to grin at them, though he certainly looked foolish, with his cheeks beginning to puff out and furiously red. "Just can't seem to see right. Feels like my eyes were going to close. And no wasp stung me, either; that is, as far as I know. It feels awful tough, I tell you now, and that's no joke."
Elmer bent forward to look closer.
Then his face assumed a serious expression.