"S-s-say, what you got in the p-p-pot?" demanded Toby, suspiciously.
"A surprise," grinned Bandy-legs.
He filled four bowls with something from the pot and set them before his chums. It had a queer odor, and the boys sniffed at it first, looking toward each other.
Toby was the first one bold enough to put a spoonful into his mouth.
"Yum-yum!" he seemed to gurgle, and the others took this as an indication of approval, for immediately the three followed the example set by the "taster."
At once shouts and laughter went up, as every boy, even including the artful Toby, made haste to get rid of his mouthful as fast as possible.
"Ugh! what a horrible mess!" cried Owen.
"What did you fool us for, Toby?" demanded Steve.
"Huh! t-t-think I w-w-wanted all the t-t-taste to m-m-myself?" demanded
Toby.
"But whatever did you put in this stew to make it taste so funny?" demanded Max.