"What's the club going to do when it's formed?" he asked.
"Oh, have a good time, hunting, fishing—"
"Well," said Nat slowly, "I wouldn't mind joining myself." His sarcastic expression gave place to an eager look.
Dave and Sam exchanged swift glances. "Bob Somers is managing the whole affair," said the latter; "it was his idea."
A rather curious twinkle shone in Nat Wingate's brown eyes, and for a moment he hesitated. Then he said with apparent frankness: "Well, I guess the club could stand the two of us."
"We don't know yet just what is going to be done," replied Sam, evasively, for, to tell the truth, he was not anxious that Nat Wingate should join.
At this juncture, the two, realizing that they had barely time to reach the meeting place, bade Nat good-bye and started off.
The latter slowly made his way back to the boulder, and resumed his former position.
"They don't want me, eh?" he said, half aloud. "Well, I think I'll have some fun with them yet. It's a soft crowd, and they need to be stirred up."
The thought seemed to give him satisfaction, and he laughed quietly to himself.