"Is that
fair?"
"That's fair, all right," agreed the others.
"All right, then," ordered Rand, "get busy."
While Jack and Pepper were getting the fish ready, Rand brought
the stove from the boat, set it up and had it burning, and the pan
hot by the time Pepper came with the first installment of fish.
"Gee! that smells good," called Jack a little later when the frying
fish, under Rand's skillful manipulation, began to send forth savory
odors. "You can sure cook, Rand."
"Ah done reckon dat am a fac', foh shuah," said Rand.
"Hurry up, Rand," broke in Pepper. "I can't wait much longer."
"All ready, sah," called Rand. "Dem fishes am prognosticated to ah
turn."
Something passing on the river attracted attention, and the boys
all walked a few paces toward the water.
At this instant, as their backs were turned, a boy ran swiftly
from a nearby clump of bushes, snatched the pan from the stove,
overturning the latter as he did so, and silently dashed back into
the woods.
It was done so quickly and adroitly that Pepper, who was the first
to catch sight of him, had scarcely time to shout:
"There goes Monkey Rae, and he has got our fish.
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