Part 11 (1/2)
”Do you mean to say we have to feed--all you boys?” demanded Bess.
”Feed us? No, we can eat with spoons. Just lead us to the eats.
Really, it is serious with Dray. He has already gone dead white. Come in, fellows. We are expecting you. The girls are just getting out the best linen!”
Dray, Walter and Ed entered, and like Jack, showed signs of starvation.
They literally fell into the most convenient spot available as they reached the room.
”Good evening, ladies,” panted Dray. ”We are delighted to accept your kind invitation to dine with you. Pray pardon the togs. I feel like a regular 'toff,' don't you know, but my studs are for the moment lost.
And what is a frock without the studs!”
”Well, if this isn't the very utmost,” said Cora, laughing at the boys' predicament. ”Do you mean to say that you are really hungry?”
”Shall we demonstrate?” asked Ed. ”Do you allow us? Belle, get out the chronometer and a hunk of something. If you don't soon you will have a case of homicide on your hands.”
Finally believing that the boys were hungry, the girls proceeded to empty the ice box on the back porch. They did not find any too much food there, for the sudden departure of their housekeeper that afternoon had left the girls themselves almost stranded. But, being girls, they managed the living end a little better than the boys did.
The boys, it seemed, had laid in a stock of canned stuff, in the usual hit-and-miss way, but some other campers found the ”cave” where the food had been hidden. It was out of the question either to take or get ice, so the next best thing considered was the digging of a big hole in a very damp place. Into this the boys had sunk a nice, clean, galvanized tub, and in it the victuals had been placed. On top was a cover, made of boards and oil cloth, and over this was placed the limb from a tree, this last to detract attention.
”Now, wouldn't you think,” said Jack, as he fortified himself with a sandwich, ”that any decent chap would know that we belonged to the union? We are going to form a housewives' league at dawn to-morrow, and then we will find the culprits. They will be offering us our own grub at exorbitant rates.”
”Bright little Jackie,” commented Bess, who was devouring cheese and macaroons. ”When you find the culprits you will have a perfectly good movie act in your camp. It will be ent.i.tled 'The Fate of the Kid Grubber.'”
While the boys were thus engaged in the delightful task of keeping off starvation, the girls were anxious to hear what was the proposition Cora had offered to lay before them.
”That's just the way,” grumbled Belle; ”we never can get at the interesting things!”
”I am going to tell the boys this minute,” threatened Marita. ”We notice, Belle, that you brought out that lemon pie that was hidden.
Looks as if you found the boys rather interesting.”
”Now you know exactly what I mean,” insisted Belle. ”Cora said we had to have a chaperone and we all agreed. Instead, we have a crowd of noisy boys.”
”When you boys have finished,” Cora remarked, ”we would like to clear up the debris. Also, we have a sad announcement to make. We have lost our housekeeper!”
”Good!” almost shouted Ed. ”I apply at once. I can give every qualification, even to a civil service examination. Cora, I never tasted such food before----”
”Mutiny!” yelled Jack, making a spring at Ed, which ended in such a mixup that the girls fled to the kitchen.
”We really cannot stay alone here to-night,” Cora said.
But the boys had come to their feet again, and evidently to terms.
Jack was hugging Walter and Dray was smoothing Ed's black hair.
”Will the boys go and leave us?” asked the timid Marita.
”Of course they will, and that right now,” declared Cora. ”We have no time to spare to get someone else to stay with us, however. Bess, do you want to come with me? I am going out for our new companion.”
CHAPTER VIII