“It’s a wonder he didn’t try to get square with us for that,” came from Fred. “An American would be sure to try it.”
The long ride in the open air had made all of the boys hungry, and it was not long before they had disposed of a large part of the sandwiches, pickles and eggs, washing the meal down with cocoa and coffee and also with water from a regular water bottle Spouter carried.
“Now I guess it’s about time we passed around some of the cake,” remarked Jack, presently.
“I think I’ll start on a doughnut,” answered Gif.
The cake was in a square tin and had been cut ready for use. In a few seconds all of the boys were munching away lustily.
And then something happened! It was Fred who was the first to notice that the piece of cake he was devouring had a peculiar puckery taste. He rolled some of the cake around in his mouth, and then suddenly ejected it, and just as he did this Andy dropped the doughnut he was devouring.
“Oh my! What’s the matter with that cake?”
“Say, this doughnut tastes like fire!”
“Gee, my mouth is burning up!”
“Give me some of that water, quick! My tongue is getting blistered!”