Canoe Boys and Campfires | Page 7

shoes.
"Why, certainly," replied Clay. "Clean these fish for me, that's a good
fellow."
Nugget rapidly opened and closed his mouth two or three times.
"I--I--really--I'm afraid--" he stammered.
"Let him alone, Clay," cried Ned sharply. "Clean the fish yourself.
Suppose you set the table, Nugget," he added kindly. "Arrange the
plates and knives and forks on some grassy level place, I mean."

While his companions were performing the duties assigned to them,
Ned went down to the stream and filled the coffee pot.
"This is spring water, as cold as ice," he exclaimed in surprise. "The
source can't be far away."
The sun was now out of sight, and it grew darker and darker as the
preparations for supper went on. Randy finished his own work, and
helped Nugget arrange the dishes on an outspread square strip of
canvas. He lit one of the lanterns and placed it in the center, and a few
moments later Ned made the welcome announcement that supper was
ready.
The coffee pot and the pans of fried fish and potatoes were gingerly
carried over, and then the boys seated themselves at the four corners,
crossing their legs under them, tailor fashion.
The ruddy flames mangled with the yellow glow of the lantern, dancing
on the bright tinware, and casting the shadow of the tent far into the
forest. The brook rippled softly through the ravine, and away up the
creek the melancholy cry of a whippoorwill was heard.
"This is what I call glorious," said Ned, as he opened a can of
condensed milk and passed it around. "Nothing equals a life in the open
air, and no other sport has the same fascination."
"You're right there," stuttered Randy, with his mouth full, "I'd like to
live this way half the year round."
"It beats New York," said Nugget decidedly, as he raised a pint cup of
coffee to his lips. The next instant he uttered a howl of anguish, and
made a frantic grab at the pail of cold water.
"Was it hot?" asked Clay.
"Try it and see," retorted Nugget indignantly as he buried his nose in
the pail.

For a little while the silence was broken only by the clatter of knives
and forks. Then Ned said slowly, "It does a fellow lots of good to get
away from the rush and noise of town life. We are safer here to-night
than we would be at home. No peril can come near us. Our only
neighbors are the simple, kind hearted farmers--" he paused abruptly,
and turned his head to one side.
A strange rustling noise was heard back in the forest It grew more
distinct with every second, and the boys looked at each other with fear
and wonder. Then a gruff angry bark rang out on the night air, and the
elder bushes across the glade swayed violently.
CHAPTER IV
ADRIFT IN THE DARKNESS
Before the frightened boys could realize what was coming, a big yellow
dog shot into view and rushed at them with a ferocious snarl. Under
other circumstances the Jolly Rovers would have courageously faced
the foe, but the attack was so sudden as to preclude the possibility of
defense.
The supper party broke up in ignominious confusion. Ned bolted for
the nearest tree and went up the trunk like a cat. Randy fled down the
slope to the creek, and Clay sought shelter in the bushes on the far side
of the rivulet. Nugget stared hopelessly about for an instant, and then,
with a shrill cry of fear, he dived through the flaps of the tent.
The dog rushed across the table, tramping the dishes, and unfortunately
upsetting the coffee pot. The hot liquid scalded the brute's paws, and
snarling with rage and pain, he bolted into the tent after Nugget.
For a second or two there was a terrible outcry. Nugget's appeals for
help mingled with the dog's angry barking. Then the tent shook
violently and toppled to the ground.
At this interesting juncture the owner of the dog emerged from the
bushes--a burly farmer with a very stern cast of features. He carried a

lantern in one hand, and a short, thick club in the other.
The fallen tent first attracted his attention. It was wriggling about as
though endowed with life, and from underneath came strange, muffled
sounds.
The farmer lifted one end of the canvas, and gave it a vigorous jerk,
thus liberating the dog, who began to prance about his master. A
second pull revealed Nugget's legs thrashing wildly about on the grass.
The dog immediately made a dart at them, but the farmer caught him
by the scruff of the neck and dragged him back.
The boys had witnessed the whole affair from their hiding places, and
now they dropped from