If you fellows say the word, I'll start right away to
get them ready for the pan."
"You'll do nothing of the kind," chuckled Hugh, who, like Bud, had
deposited his burden in a corner, "we're only too glad of a chance
to help pluck a few feathers ourselves. It's enough that you make
us a present of what you meant probably to take home to your mother."
"Oh! I can get others later on," observed Ralph, as he pointed
to the little heap of brown and black feathers which marked the
spot where the unused birds lay. "You see, she's not feeling
very well, my mother, I mean, and somehow quail on toast always
appeals to her. But while you're working there, let me make more
coffee. Have you got cups and such things along in your packs, boys?"
"We have," declared the overjoyed Bud; "and this bird is just prime;
never saw a fatter one, I declare. Say, Hugh, we didn't expect such
a bully treat as this, did we, when we aimed to get here in time to
cook supper?"
Preparations progressed rapidly. As Ralph had already stowed away
quite a large quantity of wood for use during the night, that labor
was spared the two late arrivals, which fact pleased Bud very much.
He could work as hard as the next one when interested in what he was
doing, but gathering fuel had never appealed to him in the same way
it did to Billy Worth, who was all the time figuring out what
splendid things the wood could be used to cook.
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