Breakfast having been duly dispatched they set about the tasks of the day. The mess of fish had tasted so fine on the preceding night that Perk found little trouble about enlisting the services of Wee Willie in an expedition looking to a second installment. They had dug some angle worms, and soon departed for the nearby river.
“Don’t expect us back until near noon,” Perk called out, joyously. “Usually the fish stop biting along toward midday, but if we have a mess we’ll show up in time for lunch.”
“Don’t bother your head about that meal,” Elmer told him, “for it’s only right some one should spell you. We don’t believe in running a willing horse to death.”
“That’s white of you, Elmer,” Perk sent back over his shoulder, as he trotted along by the side of the striding Wee Willie, taking two steps to one for the long-legged chum.
Amos hung around the camp.
He pretended to be working with his camera, but Elmer noticed him casting nervous glances in his direction from time to time. From this he wisely concluded that Amos had something on his mind, and was waiting until he could screw his courage up to the deciding point.
Knowing that it was the best thing to do Elmer simply went about his duties, whistling softly to himself, and paying no particular heed to Amos. If the other finally made up his mind to confide in him he felt sure no act on his part was likely to hasten things along.
Doubtless the fact of the others being off for the morning had something to do with the decision of Amos; since it gave him an opportunity to talk with his best chum undisturbed.
An hour and more had gone. Still Amos sat there on the log. His camera lay beside him, and the boy was bending forward, resting his head upon his hand, his elbow against an adjacent tree.
Somehow his dejected attitude stirred Elmer to the depths and caused him to change his mind. He felt that he must really make some move which the other could interpret as an expression of sympathy. As Elmer told himself: “If the mountain won’t come to Mahomet, then Mahomet must go to the mountain,” which would be the same thing in the end. He walked over to where Amos sat.