Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/372

 the first peep of day. He piled fresh fuel on the fire, put Roy's potatoes into the ashes to roast, made the coffee and pancakes, and took time while the fish were frying to give the skiff another good looking over. Then he picked up Joe's camp ax, and disappeared among the trees, returning a few minutes later with several large slabs of birch bark. By this time the fish were done, and the guide announced the fact by calling out—

"Tumble up, you sleepy heads. You've just two seconds in which to take a dip in the pond and get ready for breakfast."

Having had as many "dips" as they wanted already, the boys contented themselves with washing their hands and faces; after which they sat down to their homely breakfast with appetites to which the dwellers in towns and cities are, for the most part, strangers. Of course the squatter was still uppermost in their minds, and he and his exploits formed the principal topic of their conversation.

"By the way, Mr. Swan, you forgot to tell us what Matt stole at those camps," said Arthur, suddenly.