Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/270

 “Then we’ll leave Miss Laura’s cooking behind,” suggested Bub, winking elaborately.

“Wal, ye won’t,” cried Abner, beginning to get excited. “What do I care fer Charlie, or any other man’s opinion. I’ll take what I want to.” And he hurried to complete the packing as if fearing Laura might change her mind.

Professor Carlton and Laura accompanied the three half way down the mountain, when the youths insisted that Laura should return home. The professor completed the journey to the canoe, and after giving Abner additional explicit directions earnestly shook each by the hand and bade them God-speed.

That afternoon the cruisers took things easy, one of them always keeping a sharp outlook for Big Nick. But twilight found them peacefully arrived at a good camping-place with nothing having happened to disturb the placid quiet of their progress. Thus far they had used the paddles and Stanley began to pride himself upon his ability in this line. His exultation was short-lived, however, when Abner found he had constructed the lean-to in a stand of tall spruce.

“Want to kill us all afore Big Nick can git a whack at us?” rebuked Abner. “What d’ye