The boys, tired and hungry, pushed their boat up on the bank. One or two were elated with their success, and had quite a string of fish to show; the others, disappointed, had been arguing as to their want of luck, and had subsided into silence.
"Whew!" said Lil's brother Charlie; "I smell something good; wish I was home; awful hungry. How is it with you, Ted?"
"Voracious."
"And you, Sam?"
"Tired as that trout I chased and didn't kill."
"My! how gamy you are!"
Here the group came to a sudden halt. Two small maids appeared from the woods, and making a profound courtesy to Charlie as leader, began a speech.
"Those bothersome girls again!" whispered Billy Brittain.
"The Misses Pokeby and the Misses Sinclair have the honor to—to— Oh, Clara, what was I to say?" asked Ollie, blushing tremendously.
"Cut it short, please; we're so hungry," put in Charlie.