The boys knew by experience that it was policy to keep Jonas good-natured; so, with a good deal of pushing and whooping, they widened the circle, and contented themselves with watching the operations and exhorting Jonas to "hurry up."
"Now, that there pile belongs to the gentlemen!" said Jonas, pointing to the first heap that he threw down on the clean pebbles.
"O Jonas! aren't we all gentlemen?" asked Walter Martin, and a chorus of groans followed from the other boys.
Jonas vouchsafed no reply, but continued to shovel out clams and divide them into a half-dozen piles along the beach; while the boys danced around, awaiting the signal of the bell.
Freitag presently appeared with the great bell, and, although the summons was wholly unnecessary so far as the boys were concerned, as they had been at the scene of action for nearly an hour, it brought the teachers from their work of tent-raising.
After a blessing asked by Mr. Bernard, permission was given to the hungry crowd to attack the shellfish.
There were three courses provided--roast clams, then warm biscuit, and finally a dessert of gingersnaps, a barrel of which stood open from which all helped themselves.
Fortunately the boys were not difficult to suit, and they pronounced it a meal fit for a king.
CHAPTER IV.
IN CAMP.