“Gee, he’s got so many badges now he looks like Marshal Foch,” said Bennie.
“The more the better,” laughed the doctor. “Now, boys, bed! Big Ben is set for 4:30.”
“It’ll take a Big Bertha to wake me at 4:30,” said Dumplin’.
“Oh, you air mattress!” sighed Bennie, as he crawled into his sleeping bag.
Spider answered never a word. He was fast asleep.
CHAPTER XVII
Good-bye to Crater Lake, and a Motor Trip to Bend
Uncle Billy was as good as his word the next morning. At half-past four he shook Bennie and Spider, and he had to shake them hard, too. Then all three of them went into the other tent, and rolled Mr. Stone and Dumplin’ upside down in their sleeping bags. It was still cold, and the sun was not yet up over the snowy crags of Garfield. In the still, crystal-clear air, the water of the lake was without a ripple, and every rock and tree on the rim was perfectly reflected in the blue mirror.
“Take a good long look, boys,” said the doctor. “It’s good-bye to Crater Lake as soon as we can load the cars.”
“I hate to leave it,” Spider said. “I don’t believe I’ll ever see anything so grand again, or have such a good time.”
“I hate to leave it, too,” said Bennie. “But I bet we’ll have a lot more good times. I guess old Oregon is full of ’em.”