CHAPTER XVI.
A COLONEL OF THE “KANGAROOS.”
The Colonel, however, did not stop beside them. He evidently had letters to read, and wished to look them over in the seclusion of his tent.
“We will be having breakfast before long,” he remarked to the two boys on passing, “and I shall expect you to be my guests for the time being. While we eat our scanty meal you can tell me all you wish me to know.”
Here and there the fires had been built up again, and preparations were proceeding for the morning meal. This interested the boys. They had their customary appetites with them; and, besides, were amused to see how differently these men from the other side of the world went about certain things in connection with cooking.
It was not long before enticing odors began to arrive that caused Amos to express himself:
“They know how to cook, let me tell you, Jack, even if their way of building a camp fireplace does look queer to us. I suppose different people have different ways of doing things. The result is, after all, the main thing, and if these splendid whiffs I’m getting mean anything I’ve got something to learn still.”
It was broad daylight when the Colonel came out of his tent again. Jack thought he looked as though he had had good news from home, for his eyes sparkled, and a smile could be seen on his bronzed face.
“Now, if you young chaps will sit down with me here at my camp table, we can talk while we eat,” he remarked as he joined them.
No one seemed to be at mess with the Colonel. Perhaps this was because they had duties elsewhere; or else he had let it be understood that he wished to be alone with the two American boys who had come from the Thunderer, bent on some mysterious errand that was yet to be made plain to him.
For a short time the conversation was on general topics. The officer asked many questions, for he had not been in touch with the great outside world for weeks, and was naturally deeply interested in what might be going on across the Atlantic.