Part 7 (1/2)

The canoes were pulled high and dry on the bank and carried well back among the trees. Then the tent was stretched, and soon the Comrades were ready for bed. They could not withstand the temptation to stop and talk a while, however, and as a fitting accompaniment to their conversation, Chot and Fleet prepared a lunch, which was washed down with cold water from a nearby spring.

”Speaking of lawyers,” said Pod, ”do you know--?”

”Now, who said anything about lawyers?” demanded Fleet.

”Well, speaking of them, anyway, what would you say if you had occasion to do business with one and he charged only a nominal fee?”

”I should say,” replied Fleet, ”that it was quite fee-nominal.”

So surprised was Pod at having Fleet answer one of his jokes, that for a moment he stared, open-mouthed, at his comrade. Fleet, pleased at his ready answer, was laughing heartily, and after a moment Chot and Tom joined in, much to Pod's chagrin.

”Think you're smart, don't you, Fleet Kenby?” cried the little fellow.

”A little too smart for you that time, anyway.”

”Well, since you're so smart to-night, I suppose you know what the patient said when he went to consult two dentists who were brothers, and it took both of them to pull his tooth?”

”No; I am forced frankly and unreservedly to admit, Mr. Meelick, that I do not know what the patient said,” returned Fleet, in a tone that exasperated Pod.

”Nor I,” said Chot.

”What did the patient say, Pod?” Tom demanded.

”He said, 'Just see what two brothers can do when they pull together',”

and Pod commenced to chuckle.

But none of the others cracked a smile. Of course, they all understood the joke, but simply to irritate Pod, they pretended that they did not.

”I say, he said, 'Just see what two brothers can do when they pull together',” repeated Pod. ”Don't you see-pull together-two of them?”

”'Pull together-two of them',” echoed Tom, looking inquiringly at Chot.

”Yes; there were evidently two brothers,” said Chot. ”Don't you understand, Tom? They were dentists. They didn't want to pull the tooth for this patient, but--”

”Oh, you don't catch it yet,” said Pod. He was exasperated as he always was when one of his jokes fell flat. ”This patient had a sense of humor--”

”Oh, I see it now,” said Fleet. ”The patient had a sense of humor, fellows, so he went to have his tooth pulled. That's the funniest thing I ever heard,” and Fleet laughed uproariously.

”No; you haven't caught the point yet, Fleet,” said Chot. ”The point to this joke lies in the fact that the patient went to see two dentists at one time. He stood there watching them for a moment, you understand, trying to decide which one he wanted to pull his tooth. Each of the dentists wanted to pull the tooth, but the patient only wanted one of the dentists to pull the tooth. Well, can't you see-er-that is, to say--”

”I understand perfectly,” said Tom. ”The joke is that both of the dentists wanted to pull the same tooth. That was funny, wasn't it?”

”I don't believe you've quite got it yet,” said Fleet. ”You see when this patient entered the dentist's office--”

There is no knowing how long this might have continued, had not Pod arose with a snort of disgust and announced his intention of going to bed.

Pod's anger did not last long, however, and in the morning he had forgotten that there ever was such a thing as a joke about two dentists.

The boys were astir before sun-up. A fire was kindled and a pot of coffee made, and well satisfied so far as the inner boy was concerned, the boys pushed their canoes out in the stream just as Old Sol came peeping over the hills to the east.