“I reckon you need it the wust, Sid; git the stuff inside in a hurry.”
Then Paul remembered that Sid had recently been injured. And somehow he began to understand that even such a hardened case as Hank Lawson, in whom no one seemed ready to place any trust, might have a small, tender spot in his heart. He could not be all bad, Paul decided.
Hank, however, did not refuse to accept the second cup, and hastily drain it. Apparently, he 196 believed the leader should have first choice, and meant to impress this fact upon his satellites.
What to do about the four boys had puzzled Paul a little. To allow them to accompany him and his chums back to Deer Head Lodge would make the remainder of their outing a very disagreeable affair. Besides, there was really no room for any more guests under that hospitable roof; and certainly Tolly Tip would not feel in the humor to invite them.
So Paul had to figure it out in some other way. While Hank and his three cronies were eating savagely, Bobolink having finished preparing the odd meal for them, Paul took occasion to sound the one who occupied the position of chief.
“We’ve brought over enough grub to last you four a week,” he started in to say, when Hank interrupted him.
“We sure think you’re white this time, Paul Morrison, an’ I ain’t a-goin’ to hold back in sayin’ so either, just ’cause we’ve been scrappin’ with your crowd right along. Guess you know that we come up here partly to bother you fellers. I’m right glad we ain’t had a chance to play any tricks on you up to now. An’ b’lieve me! it’s goin’ to be a long time ’fore we’ll forgit this thing.”
Paul was, of course, well pleased to hear this. He feared, however, that in a month from that 197 time Hank was apt to forget the obligations he owed the scouts, and likely enough would commence to annoy them again.
“The question that bothers me just now,” Paul continued, “is what you ought to do. I don’t suppose any of you care to stay up here much longer, now that this blizzard has spoiled all of the fun of camping out?”
“I’ve had about all I want of the game,” admitted Jud Mabley, promptly.