"Lunch will soon be ready, boys," volunteered Tom. "I only hope Sam and Dick will get back in time to enjoy the feast. Hark!"
The sound of a shot reverberated with startling clearness—then another.
"That means disaster to some poor, inoffensive animal," declared Dave, and this proved to be true. When the young hunters returned, each was laden with a good-sized rabbit.
Tom dished out a liberal portion of something that had a general resemblance to stew, and then poured the coffee.
"Hope you'll enjoy it, boys," he said. "It's the first time I ever cooked."
A strange silence suddenly fell over the assemblage as they began to eat.
"It seems just a little—err—I might say burnt," suggested Bob.
"And has perhaps too much salt, just a trifle," murmured Sam.
"Is the coffee solid?" inquired Dick, innocently, as he looked at a cup of astonishing blackness.
"Not more so than mud," replied Tom, who was considerably surprised at his own attempt; "it might be improved by a little hot water."