Between that time and dark they brought out their bear steak again and clumsily broiled great slices over the fire. They also cut large quantities of bread into slices and made sandwiches. They even made large quantities of coffee and bottled it up in milk jars with patent tops in which the boys had brought a supply of the lacteal fluid.
The boys regarded them curiously as these liberties were taken with their provisions, but Phillips explained that he had many miles to travel during the next two days, and would not be within reach of his base of supplies. Mendoza was not so careful to quiet the suspicions of the lads, and his brusqueness was one of the things which put them on their guard.
“Those fellows are getting ready to jump out!” Jimmie insisted as he walked away from the fire with his chum.
“Well, we can’t help it if they do start away!” Kit responded.
“We might shoot,” Jimmie went on, “but that is a game two can play at, and it might not be a profitable one for us.”
“I wouldn’t like to do that, anyway,” said Kit.
“I’ve got a notion,” Jimmie went on, “that these fellows want to get away in the machine to-night. They probably believe the story I told about the chief ranger, but, still, they doubtless want to beat it while the beating is good.”
“I don’t believe they can run the machine,” argued Kit.
“I don’t believe they can, either,” answered Jimmie. “But they know that I can,” he added significantly.
“They wouldn’t take you along!” Kit replied.