“Well, Bennie,” he said, “what are you and Spider going to do today? I can’t seem to think of anything left around here that will give you as much exercise as you want. Of course, you haven’t yet run all the way down the trail and run all the way back again. You might try that. Or you might row to Llao Rock and tow your other boat home, before the launch has to go for it.”
“Naw, that’s too easy,” Bennie grinned. “I kind of thought we might hike around the rim road. How far is it—forty miles? We’d be back in time for dinner.”
“A good idea!” Uncle Billy exclaimed.
“What’s a good idea?” asked Bennie, beginning to be sorry he’d made the joke.
“A hike,” said the doctor.
Spider and Bennie groaned.
“Not today!” the doctor laughed. “Tomorrow, maybe. We haven’t had a real hike yet, and I heard you talking the other day, didn’t I, Bennie, about wanting to work for a merit badge in hiking?”
“Where’ll we hike to—how far?” put in Dumplin’. “Look at those two lovely automobiles, just doing nothing. Don’t seem right to me to let ’em loaf so.”
“Well, you can stay back in camp, and have the wood all cut and the dinner cooked for us when we get back,” said his father.
“Yes, I will!” Dumplin’ retorted. “I may be fat——”