The third course consisted of the chicken and dumplings, stewed bracken, and a side dish of vegetable that looked for all the world like small potatoes. The boys studied these curiously.
"It's quite digestible," laughed Mrs. Vernon.
"But be sure to appreciate them,—they are the only Wapitos we've ever found!" declared Joan, proudly.
"Wapitos! You don't mean it!" exclaimed Alec, eagerly.
"Why, where did you find them?" asked the other boys.
"One morning when we were out tracking," said Julie, with a careless manner. Then quickly added, "Oh, Captain, where are the Brussels sprouts? We almost forgot that vegetable."
The Orderly jumped up and ran to the stove where, in one of the niches, stood the bowl of charlock hearts, a wild green that tastes exactly like tender sprouts. These are easy to cultivate in a garden, too, and are not as expensive as Brussels sprouts.
"My, what a spread this is!" sighed Bob, ecstatically.
Every one laughed, for Bob and Anne were the gourmands of the two troops, and were never ashamed to admit when they enjoyed a thing.
"Yes, it's some dinner, all right. Made a lot of work, didn't it?" added Alec.