“Hi, Jeff! what’s the matter?” cried Gif.
To this question there was no response, and a glance around showed that the colored man was nowhere in sight. On the stove rested a large pan of fried fish and another pan containing fried potatoes. Both the fish and the potatoes were much overdone, and each pan was sending forth a volume of smoke.
“Confound him!” cried Gif. “He’s let the fish and the potatoes burn! What do you know about that?”
“Better get them outside, Gif,” answered Jack, who was close by his chum. “Here, give me that pan!” And, catching up a cloth, he caught hold of the pan of fried potatoes and carried it outside. Gif followed with the pan of fish. Other things were on the back of the stove, and these were likewise beginning to burn.
It must be confessed that Gif was thoroughly angry, and so were all the other boys. They had returned to the bungalow, each with a hearty appetite, and now the expected dinner was burnt and worthless.
“I wonder where Jeff went?” questioned Jack, glancing around.
“He ought to have his neck wrung!” growled Gif.
“Maybe something happened to him,” returned Spouter.
Hastily the six cadets started on a search around the bungalow. It came to an end almost immediately as Andy set up a low cry.
“Here he is! He’s asleep!”