"It will be a pleasure to have you," said Dick, and he meant it. His chums, too, were glad of the man's company.
"And I'll show you how the electric stove works," went on Dick, for the lame man had been much interested in the fittings of the big car.
"All right—if you insist!" and he laughed in an engaging manner. He left orders about his car, and was soon in the big machine with Dick and his chums, who resumed their journey.
They had purchased some supplies in the village where the garage was situated, and, reaching a secluded place on the road, they began the preparation of a meal on the electric stove.
"Now I insist on you letting me help," said Mr. Brockhurst. "I'm a sort of old bachelor myself, and used to cooking. Shall I bring up a scuttle of coal, or a pail of water?"
"We don't need coal," said Dick, "though we might have some water. That looks like a spring over there."
"I'm the water-boy!" cried the lame man, as, with all the exuberance of youth, he limped off with a collapsible rubber pail toward the spring.