They camped in a small clearing on the bank of a stream, which Russ said had once been a raging torrent. Now, only a thin rivulet of water trickled through the rocky bed. Russ scooped out a hollow where the water flowed between two boulders, to form a small pool, so that they were able to wash up and fill their canteens.
Supper consisted of canned beans, bacon and pan-fried biscuits. Everyone ate heartily, with the exception of Prince, who turned up his nose at the conglomeration of food they piled up on a tin plate for him and stalked off into the woods.
“Probably off to catch himself a rabbit,” Russ said.
Jerry wrinkled up his nose distastefully. “And I thought he was a nice dog. That’s cruel.”
“Don’t be a dope,” Sandy said. “Is it any more cruel than slaughtering cows, pigs, sheep and little lambs to feed our faces?”
“Animals are nicer than people,” Quiz said. “They only kill each other for food. It’s the beautiful balance of nature. The fish and birds eat the insects; and they in turn provide food for the larger animals. Every living thing has its place and purpose.”
“Even snakes?” Jerry asked, suddenly scanning the ground suspiciously.
“Even the snakes,” Quiz said.
Sandy laughed. “Don’t look so worried, Jerry. They won’t bother you unless you bother them first. I read it in a book.”
“Yeah,” Jerry said. “But how do I know the snakes around here read the same book?” He grinned as the other two boys moaned and rocked back and forth with their heads in their hands. “It wasn’t that bad, fellows.”