Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/269

 You’ll have to carry Snake falls and will find lots of swift water to be poled above that point. But you ought to make the trip in three days, even if you take it easy. You’ll find my blaze at the southeast end of the ridge and can follow it right through due north as the company claims the line was originally run. That’ll save you some time. You can take my line as correct, as I was very careful.”

The youths and Laura in the meanwhile were busy in planning on a reunion, as Stanley insisted on styling their next meeting. Bub tried to aid with the dinner but was expelled from the kitchen after spilling the flour.

The noon-day meal was eaten largely in silence, as each one realized the dangers attending the trip. Abner, however, was not deterred by any gloomy cast of thoughts from eating most heartily. When it came time to pack the knapsacks—kindly furnished by the professor to replace those lost—Laura quietly insisted on contributing various delicacies as well as a quantity of substantial viands.

“It’s the first time in my life I ever took home-cooking into the woods,” said Abner. “Guess Noisy Charlie would give me the laff if he knew it. He’d say I was gitting to be a reg’lar dude.”