"What do you say to having a real breakfast down here?" suggested
Walter.
"Yes, I'm hungry," urged Chunky.
"Oh, you'll get over that," retorted Ned.
"An excellent idea, but what are you going to do for a fire?" asked
Professor Zepplin.
They had not thought of that before.
"That's so. There is no wood down here at all," said Tad. "But, wait a minute. I know where there are some dead brush sticks a little way from here. Come on, some of you fellows, and we'll see what we can do."
When they returned each had his arms full of brush and vines, all of which they dumped in a heap on the edge of the rapids.
"It doesn't look very promising," said the Professor, with a doubtful shake of his head.
"No, I guess it will be a quick fire," answered Tad. "Ned, you get the coffee ready and the other things so we can put them on the fire the moment we get it started. I'll have the pile ready by the time you are."
With considerable skill the lad arranged the heap, placing the dead leaves and the driest of the sticks at the bottom. On top he placed a mass of half green stuff, packing the whole down by throwing himself on the pile, after which he rounded it up in a mound shape, with a circle of stones in the middle.