"He's good and strong and should make a good man for the carries," remarked Mr. Anderson, as he noted Pud's bulky form as he came out of the water.
"Yes, some good portaging will take off about ten pounds of fat and make him as hard as nails," said Mr. Waterman.
"What's that you say?" asked Pud, as he turned towards them.
"I was just saying," said Mr. Waterman, "that some good portaging would take ten pounds or so off you and make you as hard as nails."
"Lead me to it. I'm game," replied Pud. "I came up here not only to learn how to fish, but mainly to get hardened up for football in the fall."
"Don't worry then," said Mr. Anderson. "Anybody that charges you next October will think that he has run into a stone wall."
"How long before dinner?" asked Pud, as he looked longingly across the little stream where Jean was busily engaged around the fire.
"Not very long," said Mr. Waterman. "Let's go over and see if we can hurry things along."
"All right," said Pud. "Just give me a minute to slip into my clothes."
Mr. Waterman went over to the fire and he was joined there in a few minutes by all three boys. They were set at peeling potatoes and onions, for Joe had three partridges the previous day and they were going to have a stew. The boys' task was soon through and it was not long until the smell of the partridge stew and the fresh trout on the fire fairly made the boys' mouths water. They soon set the table and then went off to try and get a look at a woodpecker they heard hammering away in the woods. They had just gotten under the big old tree on which the woodpecker was busy and were watching his diligent operations when they heard a welcome call and they broke for the camp. They arrived with Pud bringing up the rear, puffing and blowing. They then sat down to what all the boys afterwards stated seemed to them the best meal they had ever tasted. Partridge stew, fresh trout, hot bread cooked in an oven that stood before the fire and caught the heat in that way, plenty of tea and a dessert of stewed apricots formed the menu. It was indeed a merry party that sat around the table with Mr. Waterman at the head. The guides were the waiters and they were kept busy bringing the trout hot and sizzling from the fire to the table.