"Had anything to eat!" asked the guide.
"Not enough to give us indigestion," answered Ned. "Cold water is the most nourishing thing we've touched since last night."
"But I left you a rabbit. Didn't you find it?"
"We did not. It must have come to life some time during the night and dug its way out," laughed Tad.
"And we've got a surprise for you," announced Stacy, swelling with pride.
"What's it all about?" laughed the guide.
"You'll see when you get to camp," answered Chunky. "I don't need guns to hunt with. A stout club for mine."
After having shown the cat to Lige and getting his promise to teach them how to skin it, the boys set to with a will to assist in the unpacking. While they were pitching the tents over the pine cots Jose got out his Buzzacot range, which he started up in the open, and in a few moments the savory odors of the cooking reached the nostrils of the Pony Riders, drawing from them a shout of approval.
By the time the meal was ready the tents had been pitched and the boys had returned from the spring, rubbing their faces with their coarse towels, their cheeks glowing and their eyes sparkling in anticipation of the feast.
Chunky reached the table first, greedily surveying what had been placed on it.