Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/286

 and carry it ’round with ye all day it might be a good scheme,” sarcastically replied Abner. “But fer me, I’d prefer not to go through the process of gitting wet ag’in. What good would it do ye if ye was bone dry this minute? In five more ye’d be wet a’gin. No, we’ll rough it. This is what city chaps pay money to enjoy in the woods.”

“Only they usually bring lots of tents and a stove and read novels inside while it rains,” added Bub.

“I can stand it,” laughed Stanley, now beginning to be amused at the water trickling down into Abner’s disgusted eyes.

“Shall we wait till to-morrow before beginning the cruise?” asked Bub, whose hopes were centered on an affirmative answer.

“No, sirree!” exploded Abner. “We’ll start in now. If this rain thinks it can make me quit it’s mistaken.”

“But we don’t ever work when it rains,” remonstrated Bub.

“That’s true when we are on a decent cruise, as the time we spend drying our clothes at night more’n takes off anything we gain. But this is a rush order and we’ve got to go through with it.”

“If the rain inconveniences us it will keep