The Outdoor Chums | Page 5

tickled over the chance of an outing as I am.
He never forgets that he was a boy, you see. So-long, fellows; see you
later at Will's house."
There was a scattering then and there, Bluff heading in the direction of
the building where his father had his offices, while the other two kept
on in company, their homes being close together.
Will was the only one who really expected any show of opposition: for
his widowed mother simply idolized him, seeing every day new traits
of character as well as little facial resemblances that made him appear
more and more like the husband and father who was gone; but then the
boy knew just how to overcome these scruples, and his arguments were
always backed up by his twin sister, so that in the end he usually
attained his wish.
His one great hobby lay in the line of photography, and such had been
his remarkable success with a cheap outfit that his mother had surprised
and delighted the boy on a recent birthday by giving him an expensive
camera.
Of course, he was fairly wild to get away into the woods and secure
many stunning pictures of the great outdoor folks, the birds and animals
inhabiting the wilds. Will cared little about shooting, and expected to
do all his hunting with his camera.
When about an hour later Frank called each of his chums up on the

'phone, and eagerly demanded to know how things had turned out, he
was delighted to hear them say one after the other that everything was
lovely, and full permission to go had been duly granted.
After lunch they held a grand pow-wow at the home of Will, to which
the two girls were admitted; for it had been deemed best that all the
schools in both Centerville and Newtonport should be closed for a few
days, in order to make a few needed repairs after the storm.
"Frank, consider yourself appointed commander-in-chief; and now
please tell each of us what we must do," said Will, as they gathered
around in the living room.
"I'll see about the wagon that is to take our stuff up. One of us can meet
the driver on the road after we've picked out the spot for the camp.
Every fellow be sure to have his outfit ready at seven in the morning.
Bring two blankets apiece, and the things I've written down here--a
towel, soap, and such little necessities," returned Frank.
"Who looks after the grub part of it?" demanded Bluff, who was never
known to be separated from his appetite.
"That's my part, too," said Frank; "only, if any of you have any
particular fancy in the line of stuff to eat now's the time to add it to the
list I've made out."
"Let's take a squint at it, partner," remarked Bluff, anxiously.
He ran through the list.
"Don't think I'm going on short rations," laughed Frank, noting the
expression akin to dismay appearing on the other's face; "but you see
we'll have our motor-cycles along, and when we need a new lot of
groceries it'll just be fun to mount and fly down here to pick up a
bundle. Read out the variety, Bluff, and see if any one thinks we want
anything else."
"H'm, here's matches, sugar, tea, coffee, condemned milk--I mean

condensed milk--butter, four loaves of bread made at home by Frank's
hired girl, who's a dandy cook," read Bluff, in a sing-song tone. "Then
comes bacon, salt pork for cooking fish with, half a ham, potatoes,
pepper and salt, self-raising flour, cornmeal, fine hominy, rice, beans,
canned corn, tomatoes, Boston baked beans, a jar of jam, canned
corned-beef and crackers.
"What else--don't all speak at once?" asked Frank, holding a pencil
ready.
"I say a nice juicy beefsteak for the first night in camp; we won't be
able to produce any game at short notice, I reckon, and that would be
fine; just put that down for my sake, chief," observed Jerry.
"And, say, ain't we going to have any onions?" asked Bluff indignantly,
at which Frank doubled up as if taken with a fit.
"That's one on me, boys. Why, I wouldn't ever think of going into camp
without a supply of good onions along. If you ever came trudging home
at evening, with game on your back, tired to beat the band, and when
near camp sniffed fired onions cooking, you'd say they're the best thing
ever toted into the wilderness. That's the time you showed your good
sense, Bluff, old man. Onions? Why, to be sure, and plenty of 'em.
Anything more?" he laughed.
The boys shook their heads; they had not had enough experience in
camping out to warrant suggesting other additions to the apparently
complete list