Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-06
CHAPTER XII
THE SECOND DAYS HAPPENINGS.

~ HE story Ed read was very interesting,
being an account Of the finding OF
~ a chest of gold by two boys, and
he became SO absorbed in it that he
failed to notice the return of the wood-gath-
erers until a piece of dirt hit him on the
head. Then he merely glanced around, with
a remark to the effect that somebody didn't
want to be quite so funny OF they'd get hurt,
and he resumed his reading.
He was still very much absorbed in the
story when, about IL o'clock, the party re-
turned with their second load of wood
and another piece of dirt came flying at his
head.
"Don't forget our dinner, cooIl" called
Mark. Its Ii o'clock now, and tins Is the
last load we're going to bring,
"Oh, don't worry yourself" replied Ed;
II won't forget it."
But he did forget it, and. he was only re-
minded of his duty by hearing MARKS s,;v voice, e
the others that it was - o'clock, and they'd
better hurry up, or they'd find the dinner
all eaten by the time they got into camp"
And throwing down his paper, Ed rushed
over to the stove, piled it full OF the wood
that had been brought in, then scratched the
wrong end of a match on his trousers until
it broke the match in two, IN a hasty attempt
to light the wood, burned his finger trying 70
use the good half Of the broken match, -and
mad and said, "Confound It'll" lit another
match and a large piece OF paper, and put
these underneath the wood; got down on his
knees and blew until he was red In the lace,
trying to get draught started; wadded up
another piece of paper and put that in; then
blew some more; and, finally, after getting
his nose and one ear all black and smutch
of SCOT across his forehead, had the salts
faction of seeing the fire start. Just as Mark
put in an appearance, carrying bag OF
wood.
''Hellol where's the dinner?" was Marks
salutatory question, dropping the bag OF wood
as he spoke, and jamming his hands into
his trousers pockets, with peculiar look at
Ed that had much significance in it.
at isn't cooked yeti" snapped Ed, saw
agely poking some more wood into the stove:
"Wel, why. isn't it? What's the matter?'
was the next interrosation,.a ;. h,.n G.
couldn't get the fire started, for one thing.
and"
"And-what?"
'Well, we had breakfast at o'clock, and
you certainly don't want dinner before half
Soh, we don't! Hi, fellows as the other
boys came into camp, "heres Ed, just start
ing the fire, and says. we certainly don't
want dinner before 9sa s, half-past y. What do
The Others looked as though they thought
a great deal more than they would say.
SWe1l have to discharge him and hire
him over again, | guess" said VIII.
where he stood and sat down. He wouldn't
carry it another step, he declared, until be
had had something. to eat; if Ed wanted it
before then, he could come and get it.
Percy gave his basket a fling also, and
throwing himself down on the grass. where
Ed had watched the camp" buried his dis
appointment in Eds paper.
Ed paid no attention to them, but hustled
about, cutting bread and meat, opening cans,
sammng frying pans, kettles and tin basins
about; pouring water ON this thing and that,
and straining il. off from other things; burning
himself almost every time he went near the
each burn, thereby furnishing a great deal
of amusement and subject for satirical COM
ment for those who were watching him and
waiting for the dinner; and finally, in about
thirty-fve minutes from the time he had
started the fire, he announced that 'the watt
ers might set the table, as dinner would be
ready directly"
That put the boys in good humor again.
and by the time they. sat down to the table
they were as Jolly as four boys could well be.
The dinner was success, too, notwithstand-
ing Eds hasty preparation OF it, and this
tended to still further raise the spirits of the
party.
Mark felt so good that he had to tell the
other boys about queer little animal he had
seen while gathering wood, getting up from
the table and giving very clever bit of act
ing on all-fours, illustrative of the actions
of the animal when he first saw it and after
it caught sight of him, SC. that the others
ance.
Herb guessed it must have been species
Of monkey, to Judge from Marks realistic IL
lustration, and comphmented Mark upon SO
cleverly initiating the actions of the creature
CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE