"You have to use your old bean up here," said Bill. "When in doubt, Pud, leave it to Bob. He's full of gray matter whereas—"
"Don't 'whereas' any more, Bill, or I'll give you a ducking," said Pud, as he cornered Bill so that if he rushed him, he would have to go out into the lake.
"All right, all right," said Bill. "I'll keep my further remarks about beans, mentality, cerebellum, etc., until we're ready for the swim."
"You'd better," said Pud strongly.
They all then got into their canoes and got back to camp to find there an air of mystery that was noted at once by their leaders and shortly later by the boys. Joe got Mr. Waterman aside right away and what he had to say made him look very serious. Just then Jack came up and Mr. Waterman listened to him very carefully. Mr. Anderson was called over and the boys saw the four of them talking very seriously together.
"I wonder what's up," said Bob. "Something has gone wrong but I don't see anything the matter with the camp, do you?"
"Not a thing," replied Bill. Pud looked around in his easy-going fashion, just as if nothing could disturb him anyway.
Mr. Anderson and Mr. Waterman did not offer any explanation when they came back to the boys and they soon were in the water having a fine swim. Later on they found that in some mysterious way a bag of flour, a fitch of bacon, a small bag of salt, and a few other small articles had been taken from the cook tent. Mr. Waterman felt sure that he could rely on the honesty of his guides and he was greatly mystified.
"It beats me," said Mr. Waterman. "If an Indian or a stray fisherman really needed grub, he would know that we would be perfectly willing to help him out. No one ever refuses hospitality in the woods."
"I can't make it out either," said Mr. Anderson.