Part 7 (2/2)
”Why, you can't cook without a stove,” replied Pepper, ”and, besides, he stole our pan”
”Pan!” exclaimed the colonel, ”and plates, too When you are out on a traot a match?”
”Yes, sir,” replied Jack, ”lots of theood scout doesn't use ht a fire Why, when I was out in Arizona ould make one match do for a whole co some”
”Suppose you let me show you how to cook without a stove Jack, see if you can't find soer pieces, plenty of the up a lot of that clay from down there by the water That's the stuff Norap your fish up in a coat of clay Never mind the scales Coat theet them ready If we only had some flour we'd have a dinner in the real scout style”
”I don't see how you are going to cook the to bake theood, hot fire on top of them”
”Like they do with a clam bake?” inquired Rand
”That's the idea,” said the colonel, hile talking, had been packing the fish in two layers on a flat rock ”Now put your leaves on--not too many--lay on your pieces, Rand, pile theht That's it; now, Jack, touch it off”
Jack struck a match which flickered for a minute and went out
”Tut! Tut!” cried the colonel, ”that won't do!”
”Oh, it doesn't matter,” said Jack, ”I've plenty more”
”No,” corrected the colonel, ”you should rely on only one Now, suppose we are out on the plains and this is your lastdown, the colonel waited a moment until there was a lull in the wind, when he struck theit with his hand until it blazed up, and then touched it to the leaves, which, catching the fire, were soon blazing fiercely
”Now, then,” went on the colonel, ”we don't want the eneood plan to throw out a picket to keep guard?”
”I think it would,” replied Rand, ”although I don't think that he will come back”
”You mustn't depend upon that,” cautioned the colonel ”Always think he will do the ood scout is always on the alert, especially in the enemy's country”
”We didn't knoere in the eneuess it is the eneoing off and circling about the place ”I guess he's gone,” he said to hi!”
”Now,” said the colonel, after a time, ”I think our fish must be pretty nearly cooked Rake one of them out, Don, and try it, but don't disturb the others until you find out How is it?”
”Fine!” cried Pepper, who had assisted in the operation ”Couldn't be better Hadn't we better put on some more?”
”You will have to build another fire,” replied the colonel ”Now, see hoell you can do it Do it just as I did and light it from this fire We had only one match, you know”