"Let's go back to the woods," proposed Dick.
His suggestion was immediately acted upon. Dividing their spoils, they marched briskly, eagerly anticipating the coming feast.
When they arrived at a small open space in the midst of a dense pine forest, Bob Somers proceeded to dig a good-sized hole. The clay-covered duck was deposited therein, close to the surface, the rest of the boys having in the meantime started a huge fire.
Bob filled most of the hole with earth, leaving just enough space for the duck to be surrounded with hot ashes. This took considerably longer than they anticipated, but the task was at length completed, after which the fire was raked over it.
"No one can tell us much, when it comes to camping out," said "Hatchet" sententiously; "before long, we'll be able to give old Agnew a few good points."
While the meal was in course of preparation, the boys wandered around on little exploring expeditions, one of them being fortunate enough to discover a fresh, bubbling spring.
Considerably more than two hours passed before Bob judged that the duck was cooked. It was found that the clay had become hard baked. Bob carefully broke it away and with it came the feathers.
Sitting around in a circle, the boys heartily enjoyed their meal and told stories, while Bob and Nat amused their hearers by several recitations.
"Let's take a short tramp through the woods," proposed the latter, when they decided that it was time to break camp.
As no objections were offered, the young hunters at once set off.