"Just balsam branches heaped up in the bunks; we spread a blanket over them at night and sink into peaceful dreams."
"Then we want balsam branches, too," demanded Dot.
"Why should we have these things if the other men have branches?" queried Don.
"We'll ask Daddum next time we see him," said Meredith, as Paul and he continued on their way.
"Dot, we'll just go over and take a look at those balsam beds. If we like them better, we will ask Mumzie to have ours changed. If ours is best, we won't say anything," whispered astute Don.
They found Paul's bunk filled with balsam branches as he said, but they felt perfectly content with their nice soft mattresses after the balsam had been tested.
Before any further matters of interest could be found, a deafening sound came from the cook's quarters. The twins ran out to the clearing to find the meaning of the noise, and saw one of the cook's helpers walking about banging a wooden potato-masher furiously upon the bottom of a brass pan. The echoes of the strokes could be heard coming from every direction in the forest.
"What's that for?" asked Don, running over to Mose, the helper.
"I'se callin' you-alls for dinner," grinned Mose.
"Hey, Dot! come quick," called Don, turning to see if his sister was in sight. "It's dinner time, and Mose is ringin' the bell."