“Perhaps you can tell us what’s been going on here?” asked Jimmie.
“If you’ll go and fix up a big breakfast, I’ll tell you all about it!” laughed the millionaire.
“We’ll cook you some steak,” replied Carl, “and make you some coffee.”
“I think,” smiled the millionaire, “that you’d better bury that bear.”
The boys made an onslaught on the store boxes, which had been brought from the aeroplanes to the vicinity of the fire, and soon had ham and eggs frying over the ruddy coals. Potatoes were boiling in a great kettle before many minutes, and coffee was bubbling not far away.
Jimmie snatched a loaf of bread from the box and began eating, while Carl opened a tin of pork and beans and began searching for a spoon.
“Hungry, boys?” asked Mr. Havens.
“Hungry?” repeated Jimmie. “We’ve been frozen to death, and shot to death, and held captive in a mountain dungeon, and had several other disagreeable things happen to us, but the worst of the whole business is that we haven’t had anything to eat since last night!”
“Tell us what’s been going on,” requested Carl.
“After you went away,” Mr. Havens began, “three men came into camp declaring that they had been lost in the mountains. Ben prepared supper for them and then proposed going out after the Louise. At the last moment one of the men sprang into the seat beside him and they went away together.