“As a punishment, I vote that we appoint Bobby to try the first alligator’s egg,” suggested Lee.
“Second the motion!” shouted Fred enthusiastically. “You’re unanimously elected, Bobby.”
“Well, somebody had to try Limburger cheese the first time,” said Bobby, “so I suppose I might as well be the goat this time. But you’ll have to tell me how to cook them, Lee.”
“You can cook them any way, the same as a hen’s egg,” said Lee. “But I suppose, seeing we’ve nothing to boil water in, that we’d better roast a few and try them that way.”
“It doesn’t matter to me,” said Bobby. “As long as I’m to be official taster, they’ll probably taste just as bad one way as another.”
During this conversation, the boys had been heading for the spot where they had eaten lunch, and having reached it they proceeded to build a fire. They soon had a good blaze going, and in accordance with Lee’s directions, let it burn down until there was nothing but red embers left. Then they dug out a space under the ashes, placed a few of the eggs in the hollow, and raked the hot ashes over them.
“Leave them there a few minutes, and they’ll be fit for a king to eat,” said the Southern boy.
“Seems to me you’re what Mr. Leith would call an unbounded optimist,” said Bobby. “I’ve got my doubts if they’ll even be fit for me to eat, let alone a king.”
“Well, we won’t have long to wait to find out,” said Lee. “I imagine they’re pretty nearly cooked now.”
“Oh, don’t be in a hurry,” said Bobby. “I’m perfectly willing to wait a while, you know.”