“What a pity I didn’t bring that paper snake along—the one we used to scare Codfish with,” answered Andy. “I might try that big imitation firecracker on him, only he saw it the other day and saw that I was using it for a collar and necktie box.”
During those days the boys went in swimming several times. They even got up a little race among themselves, which Jack won with ease, Spouter and Randy being tied for second place. They saw but little of the cadets at the Willoughby camp. Once they noticed several rowboats going in the direction of Beldane at the lower end of the lake, and with the aid of the fieldglasses Gif had brought along recognized some of the occupants.
“I guess they’re going down there for their supplies instead of getting them of Mose Mumbleton,” was Jack’s comment. “I suppose they have an idea that Mumbleton is a special friend of yours, Gif, and that’s why some of those fellows, especially Flanders and his bunch, don’t want to trade with him.”
“Well, I’m sorry to have Mumbleton lose the money,” answered Gif.
“Oh, he won’t lose very much,” put in Randy. “Don’t you remember he said they were very close at driving a bargain for what they wanted? They would probably like to have him sell his goods without any profit.”
“I’d like to have a look at their camp,” said Andy. “What’s the matter with rowing over to that side of the lake to-morrow?”
The others were willing, and they left directly after lunch on the following day, Gif first instructing Jeff as to what he was to do during their absence.
“I want you to clean up the living room thoroughly, Jeff,” said he. “And then I want you to get a first-class dinner ready for us. We’ll be back about six o’clock. Have those fish we caught this morning and some fried potatoes, corn, and see if you can’t turn out some kind of nice cake or a pie. There are plenty of apples on hand for a pie.”
“All right, I’ll ’tend to everything,” mumbled the colored man, but he looked anything but pleased at the prospect. He had come to the camp hoping that the boys would do most of the work and that he could take it easy.
One of the rowboats was considerably larger than the others, and the six boys piled into this, taking two pairs of oars with them.