"Well, well," said Hal. "What a feast for the hungry, eh?"
He took the tray from the man's bands, while Chester edged closer to him. When the man left the tent, Chester produced an object which he held aloft.
"Something for you, Gregory," he said.
Gregory eyed the object in surprise. It was a long-handled knife.
"I just happened to see it sticking in his belt," said Chester.
"I believe that you two fellows have been fooling us," said Gregory with evident sincerity. "Come, now. What was your occupation before you joined the army?"
"Well, it wasn't picking pockets, if that's what you mean," said
Chester with a laugh.
"If this thing keeps up," said Crean, "we'll soon have weapons enough to equip a first-class arsenal."
"And that's no joke," said the man called Jackson.
"We can't hope for any more such luck," said Hal quietly. "We'll have to create what opportunities come to us now."