Part 8 (1/2)
”Well, don't crow till you're out of the woods,” re to be convinced; and it'll be worth all it costs me just to see you work that puzzle out”
”But you just know I c'n do it, don't you?” persisted Giraffe
”Won't say,” answered the fat boy, obstinately
”Well, youup your spare cash, because I'm bound to show you at the first chance It just _can't_ slip away froot it clinched this time,” and after that Giraffe would not talk, but seeh hea certain for co to make fast ti so Having arrived on the chain of lakes that, with the St Johns river, alreat island of the northern portion of Maine, they were bent on enjoying theuides were agreed theytoll of the woods' folks as their larder required, wasting nothing, and refraining fro when food was not needed
They were true scouts, and believed in following the uplifting principles that govern the actions of the better class of sportsmen As Step Hen so often declared, they did not want to be called ”gas,”
a ters his catch of bass or trout up on the shore to die, noten times what he can use; or who shoots his deer in or out of season, and allows it to lie there, wasted, on the ground, food for the foxes or wolves
”This country seems to be rather sparsely settled up here?” re the shore of Lake Winthrop for so up a desirable camp site
”In the summer you kin see a tent now an' then, it bein' sum party as wants ter enjy the fishi+n', which is prime,” Eli replied; ”but they ain't many folks as keer 'bout stickin' out ther winters hyar Ye'll adh the Canady border”
”But there uess,” Thad went on ”Because, in the first place it has a gareed to coood accounts of the region around the Eagle Lakes”
”Jest what I has, though I hain't never be'n all over 'em myself,”
returned Eli ”But Jim hyar, he was bawn an' fetched up in this kentry; so what he doan't know 'baout hit hain't wuth knowin', I guess, sir”
It was about the middle of the afternoon that Jim declared they had reached the point where their tents should be pitched Thad noticed that the guideto hide the camp; indeed, the tents could surely be seen in any direction out on the lake
This gave hi water;” he had co his irate father-in-law face to face, be the consequences what they ed hi out to be what Giraffe called a ”quitter”
Everybody soon found plenty to do The rest had enough pity for Giraffe not to enter any complaint because he see the starting of the ca what proreatest puzzles he had ever tackled
And so he was allowed to go off hi Noas the cord that failed to hold; again so else went back on poor Giraffe But he kept patiently at it, grimly determined; and even the most interested of the lot, buer, could not but feel a touch of admiration and sympathy when he sa the tall scout kept at his task as the afternoon slipped away
When supper was announced Giraffe caerly
”Well, just as good as done,” was the cautious reply ”I'vetroubles; and just now the coast see”
”One more ribber to cross!” cooed Step Hen ”It's always 'next time,'
with Giraffe, you notice, fellows”
But Giraffe was either too tired to argue, or else so confident of a speedy success that he felt he could afford to bide his tie would be very sweet, after all the chaff the fellows had poured upon his head He would wait
The supper tasted unusually fine that night, they all declared Several of the scouts assisted in its preparation, wishi+ng to show the guides just what knowledge of cas Even buht,” which turned out to be a hodge-podge, consisting of some left-over corned beef taken from a tin, some corn, and beans with several cold potatoes sliced in the sary boys declared the only fault they could find with it was that it disappeared too soon
But they had an abundance for all hands, even Giraffe ad that he was satisfied when thearound, as close to the cheery blaze as they dared, and having a ”good old fashi+oned po,” as Step Hen called it
Jim was quiet; but then he had never been a noisy fellow; and knoas on his ht then, Thad felt that he had plenty of excuse for deep thought