“She’s been pretty decent to me,” Jack admitted, softening again. “I did take food out of the ice box without asking her. Not very much though. Just enough so I could get along out here in the woods.”
“She’s worried about you now, Jack. She asked me to send you home, if I saw you.”
“Oh, I’ll go,” Jack sighed. “I’d intended to anyhow as soon as this rabbit finishes cooking. It’s done now, I guess.”
The boy removed the rabbit from the spit, and salted it, using a shaker which the Cubs were certain had come from Mrs. Jones’ home.
“Have some?” he invited the Cubs.
They declined.
“Well, I’m hungry,” Jack announced.
Dismembering the rabbit, he gnawed at the tough meat. Now and then as he ate, he glanced at the Cubs.
Having finished his meal, he put out the fire and cleaned away the debris. The Cubs noted that he was efficient at it, leaving not a spark which could set off a forest fire.
“I’ll go back to Mrs. Jones’ place now and chop more wood,” Jack said finally, picking up the rifle. “I’ll chop and chop until my hands bleed!”