“Oh, I don’t believe there are any submarines around here,” said Randy.
“Don’t be too sure about that,” put in Jack. “Don’t forget that the Huns sent over several of their U-boats before we even got into the war.”
“There may be more German submarines lurking in these waters than we have any idea of,” remarked Spouter. “It is a well-known fact that the Central Powers have an enormous number of submarines, and that they have been sent to all the important lanes of travel in the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Mediterranean Sea and the North Sea. They have got the science of building U-boats down exceedingly fine, and they evidently know exactly how to handle such craft. And not only that, but they have invented some exceedingly destructive torpedoes, and likewise some devices——”
“Say, Spouter, have you started to deliver a lecture on German submarines?” demanded Randy.
“Please remember that we came to camp for the sole purpose of escaping lectures,” added his twin.
“I’m not delivering a lecture,” returned Spouter coldly. “I was only trying to pound into your somewhat bonelike heads a few important facts. But, of course, the task is rather a useless one, because you wouldn’t be able to assimilate such knowledge even if——”
Spouter’s oratory was cut short by a wad of wet leaves which Randy picked up and hurled at him. Then Andy poked him with a long tree branch he had picked up, and for a few minutes there was quite a good-natured pitched battle, the girls looking on with much interest.
“Avast and heave to!” roared Andy, melodramatically. “Over the top and at ’em! Chew ’em up alive! Don’t let ’em cry ‘Kamerad’! Make ’em yell, ’Have you used Brickbat’s Soap!’” And at this there was a shriek of laughter from the girls.
When the horseplay had finally come to an end, the young folks walked out on the rocks where they might get a better view of the bay and the ocean beyond. As was quite natural, the boys and the girls paired off together, and Jack saw to it that Ruth obtained a seat that was comfortable. Fred did the same for May, while Spouter and Gif walked on a short distance further with the two Rover girls.
The knapsacks containing the food had been left on some flat rocks a short distance to the rear. So that they might not get too warm, the boys had placed some brushwood over them, along with some wraps which the girls had brought along.