"Our cook evidently has a grouch on this morning," laughed
Walter. "Doesn't agree with him to take a midnight bath."
"The bath was all right, but I object to having my cooking criticised."
"The bacon does look peculiar," decided Professor Zepplin, sniffing gingerly at his own piece.
Ned's face flushed.
"What did you do to it to give it that peculiar shade, young man?"
"Why, I soused it in the creek to wash it off, then laid it in the fire to cook," replied Ned.
"In the fire?" shouted Tad.
"Of course. How do you expect I cooked it?" demanded the boy irritably. "I cooked it in the fire."
"I could do better'n that myself," muttered Stacy.
"Didn't you use the spider?" asked Walter.