"Tubby's got an idea," laughed Merritt.
"Tell him to hold it. He may never get another," jeered Rob.
"Let's play ball," went on the stout youth, absolutely unperturbed by the laughter Rob's comment aroused.
"Fine," came sarcastically from one of the boys. "Where's the bat?"
"Where's the ball?"
"Where are the mitts?"
"Oh, where's the earth?" interrupted Tubby impatiently, stemming the tide of objections. "Say, can't you fellows play ball without a big league collection of stuff?"
"Well, here's a bit of board I can trim down a bit and make a bat of," said Jeb Cotton.
"Good for you, Jeb. You are a young man of resource and ingenuity. You'll make a good scout. How's this for a ball?"
The stout youth held up a rounded bowlder, which must have weighed at least four pounds.