When they had finished, she piped through the screen, "Will you please gimme a lend o' the comb?"
It was politely handed to her, and in a short time she made her appearance.
"Ho—deer's meat!" said Joe, sniffing joyfully. "Where'd you get it, pop?"
"Found half a carcass leanin' agin the door this mornin'," he said, briefly.
"Some o' the boys must 'a' left it on their way out," remarked Zebedee. "Hard blow to travel in. Gimme some, pop."
Lucas had settled himself at the table, and was eating with every appearance of enjoyment.
"Nop," he said, pausing, and speaking with his mouth full. "That thar is for you an' the leetle gal."
The boys stared at him in undisguised astonishment.
"Fall to," he said, inexorably, "eat your bacon and beans, an' be thankful you've got 'em. There's many an empty stummick in the woods this mornin'."