The Outdoor Chums | Page 6

made by the fellow who had been there, and knew all
about the needs of those who go into the wilderness.
"All right. If you happen to think of anything just get it, that's all. Look
at Jerry grinning there. I bet I know what he's thinking about--that all
this is utter foolishness, and that we ought to start out with nothing
more than we could carry on our machines, and then take pot-luck?
How about that?" demanded Frank.
"Oh! well, have it your own way, fellows," declared Jerry, with a shrug
of his shoulders; "you know my ideas about these things. I'm the kind

of a sportsman who goes into the woods as light as possible--give me a
frying pan, coffee pot, tin cup and a pie platter, some pepper and salt,
some matches, a camp hatchet to cut browse for my bed, and my trusty
rifle with which to supply the game, and I warrant you I can get along
as well as the fellow who makes a pack-horse of himself, and totes all
sorts of canned goods over the carries."
"That sounds all mighty well in theory, but there's mighty little
practical sense about it. A blanket is the camper's best friend of a cool
night; and even if he is lucky enough to shoot enough game to satisfy
his wants, he'll get sick of one diet in a short time. I ought to know
something about it, for I've tried it both ways," declared Frank.
"Yes," broke in Bluff at this juncture, "and you wait and see if Jerry
don't eat his share of every blessed thing we pack in--he won't refuse
one dish. He's quite satisfied to turn up his nose at others carrying loads,
while he goes free; but, at the same time, he eats a quarter of the grub
every time."
Both Frank and Will laughed heartily at this, in which they were joined
by Nellie Langdon and Violet Milton.
"Pshaw!" scoffed Jerry, turning a bit red at the same time, "if others are
silly enough to make pack-horses of themselves, and lug all such things
into the primeval wilderness, why, of course, I'm willing to help
dispose of them when the time comes; purely out of good-heartedness,
you see, for it makes their loads lighter. Just drop that subject, boys,
and put me down for a bottle of maple syrup; for when Frank gives us
some of those famous flapjacks he's told about so often, we ought to
have the proper thing to go with them."
So they talked the thing over from beginning to end, and it looked as if
the team Frank expected to engage would have their work cut out for
them, hauling all this camp stuff over the roads to the point beyond the
head of the lake.
The boys were evidently eager to get to work, and hence the conference
presently broke up, Jerry heading in one direction, and Frank and his

sister, with Bluff finding some plausible excuse for hanging on, going
in another.
Later on that day, while Frank was at the big grocery store, giving
orders to have the various edibles put up so as to be ready on the
following morning before seven o'clock, he was interested in seeing
Andy Lasher, backed by several of his pals, actually making similar
purchases, though just where they secured the necessary funds, having
no rich fathers to appeal to, was somewhat of a mystery.
Andy sent many a dark look across at the tall boy he secretly feared,
but apparently he knew that this was no time to bring matters to a head,
and hence there was nothing said; but the look on his freckled face told
of dark intentions.

CHAPTER III
THE RACE FOR A CAMP-SITE
"All aboard for Kamp Kill Kare!"
Frank Langdon jumped off his motor-cycle as he shouted these words,
and there was a scurrying among the other three boys, who had
gathered at the house of Will, which had been mentioned as a place of
meeting.
Each motor-cycle had numerous small packages secured about it after
the individual fancy of the owner. Will carried his precious camera
over his shoulder, but the tripod, a folding affair of the latest patent,
was tied to his wheel; Jerry and Frank had their guns securely cased,
and so arranged that they would not interfere with either the working of
the machine or any jumping on and off; while Bluff carried his new
repeating shotgun hung from his back with a strap.
He saw Jerry eyeing the same with a sneer, and was up in arms
immediately.

"Just you wait, and don't cry before you're hurt. This bang-up modern
machine shooter is no more murderous for me than yours is in your
hands. 'Sufficient unto the day