CHAPTER IV.

IN CAMP.

As the swift little boat swept forward the tents were soon visible, standing as they did near the shore and yet close to the woods which stretched away in the distance. There were two of these tents, and the white canvas outlined against the green foliage presented a wonderfully attractive appearance, at least to the eager boys, who were all unmindful now of their boatman's financial problems and intent only upon the vision of their abode for the coming few weeks.

Ethan explained to his companions that one of the tents was designed to be their sleeping quarters and the other was to provide a kitchen which could be used on stormy days. On other days the cooking was to be done in the open air, and the fireplace and the pile of logs which was to furnish fuel soon could be seen clearly as the party came nearer to the island.

There was a rude little dock near the camping place, and to this Ethan guided his boat and soon landed his passengers. As the boys leaped out, Bert called to his companions: "This is great, fellows! Let's give the school cheer!"

Instantly their united voices rang out, and Ethan looked up in astonishment. "What d'ye do that for?" he inquired blankly.

"That's our school yell, Ethan," replied Jock. "Give it again, boys!"

As the sharp, clear cry rang out again they saw a young fellow of about their own age approaching from the tents, and his evident surprise was as marked as that of the boatman. Only a brief glance, however, was required to convince the boys that it was Ethan's son before them. There was the same general outline of features as in the older man, and the same peculiar hitch as he walked.

"That's yer school yell, is it?" said Ethan. "Do they make ye do it often?"

"Oh, whenever we feel like it," laughed Jock.

"Well, your pa an' I used to have a school yell when we went to the little red schoolhouse, an' I want to tell ye that not one of ye can come up to him either. Many's the time I've seen him toe a crack, an' when the teacher brought his hickory ferule down ker-whack, yer pa could make a louder noise than any o' you boys. He was a powerful one to yell, Jock Cope was!"

Even Ethan's recollections were not of sufficient interest now to prevent the boys from running up the bank to their tents, and soon they were eagerly examining all the details of their camp. There were four cots in one of the tents and in the other were places where their trunks and guns and rods and their various belongings might be stored. Ethan's son, who had been introduced as Tom, remained with his father and assisted in bringing from the boat the articles which were to be stored in the tents, and soon had everything arranged and in order.

The camp was on the wooded shore of one of the larger islands. Before them was a view of the broad river, dotted here and there with islands, on some of which were cottages and on others camping parties not unlike their own. It was noon time now, and the sun was almost directly above their heads. The air was almost motionless, but the restless river was hastening on as if wind or wave, or heat or cold, were all alike to it. The sublimity of the scene, the novelty of the camp, the rushing waters, and tall silent trees all combined to produce a feeling of intense delight in the hearts of the boys, and they stood together on the shore looking out over the beautiful sight and filled with expectations such as only light-hearted lads at such a time can know.

"I say, boys, mebbe ye'd like something to eat."

In a moment the beautiful vision had lost its power, and turning eagerly to the camp, Jock said: "You are right, Ethan. How did you know we were hungry?"

"Didn't have to know. Folks have to eat, don' they? It's dinner time, that's what it is. Most o' folks like to look at the river when they first come, but they find scenery isn't specially fillin' as a diet. They mostly wants somethin' to eat afore long."

"We're like the others, then," said Ben. "Did you say you had dinner now in the middle of the day?"

"Yes, that's what I said. When did ye expect to have it?"

"Oh, I didn't know. We usually have it at night when we're at home."

"At night? Dinner at night?" exclaimed Ethan. "Ye must be funny folks. Noon's the hour for dinner. Everybody knows that."

"Go ahead, Ethan. Have it now. We may want it every hour in the day, if the feeling I have is anything that lasts very long."

Thus bidden, Ethan and Tom at once prepared dinner. While the younger man made a fire, Ethan prepared the potatoes, whittling the skins as if he had been carving an oar. He also split three black bass which Tom had caught in the morning, and made them ready for broiling. In addition to these he had fresh vegetables, a coffee pot, a can of milk, and various other necessities, and to the surprise of the boys it at once became evident that both Ethan and his son were adepts in the art of preparing a dinner in a St. Lawrence camp.

Soon a savory odor rose from the fireplace, and the curiosity of the boys gave place to a feeling of eagerness for the time to come when they would be summoned to the repast. The few dishes were at last brought forth, the dinner was declared to be ready, and the boys fell to with a will.

What appetites they had! How good everything tasted! For a time even conversation was neglected, but at last, when the cravings of the inner man began to be appeased, then the joy and inspiration of the hour once more returned.

"I s'pose ye've got a pretty fair house down to New York?" queried Ethan of Jock.

"Oh, yes. It's one you might call comfortable, I suppose," said Jock, with a laugh.

"Got good beds in it?"

"Yes."

"Your ma keeps a girl, I s'pose?"

"Keeps a girl? I don't know that I understand what you mean," said Jock.

"I mean what I say. She's got a hired girl, hasn't she?"

"Do you mean the maids? The servants?"

"No, I don' mean no _servants_. I mean hired girls."

"Well, yes, I suppose she has."

"They have four servants--hired girls, I mean," drawled Bob.

"Four, four? What's yer ma do herself?"

"Oh, she's busy all the time, too busy, my father thinks," laughed Jock.

"Four hired girls! I swan, if that don' beat all creation! What did ye want to come down here for then, I'd like to know? Eatin' outdoors and sleepin' on a cot when ye don' have to; that beats me! Ye city folks must be a queer lot."

"That's just what we're here for, Ethan. We came on purpose to get a taste of outdoor life."

"Well, ye're likely to have a good deal more'n a taste, I'm thinkin'. Now, then," he said to Tom when the dinner had been eaten, "I'll leave ye here to look after the boys while I go over to the Bay an' get the trunks an' things that were checked through. I'll be back by the middle o' the afternoon. Ye can get along without me, can't ye?"

"Yes, yes," said Jock. "We want to get out our rods and fix things up a little. We can try the fishing to-morrow, can't we, Ethan?"

"Yes, ye can _try_ it," replied Ethan, dryly.

"You don't think we'll do much? Is that it, or isn't the fishing good this summer?"

"Oh, the fishin' is all right. Lots o' fish here. No trouble about that."

But Ethan at once went down to the dock and set sail for Alexandria Bay, and the boys began to look to their rods and guns. Tom, who was supposed to be clearing away the dishes, frequently paused in his occupation to examine the belongings of the campers; but, although he was feeling more at ease now with them, not one word of surprise or commendation did he bestow. Indeed, his companions began to fear that their tackle must all be wrong or out of date, for the only response Tom would make to any of their anxious inquiries, was that 'he supposed 'twas all good enough; he could tell better to-morrow.'

When everything had been done which could be done before the trunks came, the four boys together left the camp and walked up the shore. The novelty was still strong, and they were eager to examine their immediate surroundings. And there was much to interest them. Swift steam yachts frequently passed up the river, and the groups of happy people on the decks could be plainly seen from the shore. Occasionally a puff of smoke could be seen, and the boom of a small cannon on some of the neighboring islands could be heard, and then the shrill scream of the whistle of a passing yacht or steamer would respond in acknowledgment of the salute. Skiffs were also seen, and the rod held in the hands of the person seated in the stern would indicate the occupation upon which he was bent.

Above them was the clear blue sky, behind them the whispering trees of the forest, and before them the great, onward-rushing river, its blue waters knowing no rest, and yet in spite of their evident haste imparting a feeling of restfulness to all the beholders, so vast was the power, so slight the effort required to maintain the steady, constant course.

To Jock the great river almost seemed to be alive. At times it was restless and almost angry, and then again it seemed to be hastening past him as if it were unmindful of its surroundings, or scornful of the puny people who sailed over its surface or stood wondering upon its banks. But the feeling of exhilaration, the delight in the presence of one of nature's most wonderful works, was apparent in all the boys.

As they turned at last to retrace their way to the camp, Bob, who had been silent most of the time, said: "This is a great place, Jock. 'Twas good of you to have us all here."

"Yes, it was pure philanthropy," said Jock. "You see, I had been down here before and wanted all the more to come again; but my father didn't want me to come alone; so I just had to make up a party, or stay at home. I'm generous, am I not?"

"Yes; what was that?" Bob suddenly said, stopping short and peering excitedly out into the river at a place where a whirl or eddy in the stream appeared.

"That? oh, that was probably some fish."

"Jock Cope, do you mean to tell me they have fish like that in this river?"

"Why, yes; what did you think was here?"

"Oh, I didn't know. But I'm wondering what I would do if a fish as large as that one was should get hold of one end of a line and I should be at the other."

"You'd wake up and go to work, for once in your life."

"I think I should, for a fact. I almost wish we could try it to-night."

"We'll try it, all right, in the morning. Ethan will have to get our minnows for us. Hark! what's that?"

The boys were now near the camp, and suddenly stopped as the sound of some one calling was heard. And yet the voice was more like that of one in distress, and fearful that something was wrong they began to run.

As they came to a place from which they could see into the interior of their camping place, they stopped and gazed curiously at the sight before them. Tom, evidently thinking that he was unobserved, had taken a position in front of one of the tents and was looking up into the sky. His arms were occasionally flung out, moving with the grace with which a pump handle performs its duties. He was standing with his feet far apart, and his entire bearing betokened the evident excitement under which he was laboring.

The startled boys were about to rush forward to his assistance, when they were still further astonished by the words which Tom thundered forth.

"Tew be--or not tew be," shouted the young fisherman.

The listening lads gazed blankly at one another, but before they could speak Tom's voice was heard again.

"_Tew_ be--," then came a long pause before he shouted, "or not _tew_ be." His arms were again flung out wildly and his face was still turned toward the sky. Apparently the question received no answer, and varying the emphasis and inflection, the sadly troubled Tom again broke forth,--

"Tew _be-e-e_, or not tew _be-e-e-e_."

Again our boys gazed blankly, first at the excited young fellow before them, and then into one another's faces.

"He's sick! He's crazy!" said Ben, excitedly.

"He's going to commit suicide!" responded Jock, with equal excitement.

Moved as by a common impulse all four of the boys instantly darted into the camp; but the startled Tom, bestowing upon them one glance of terror and confusion, turned and ran swiftly into the woods.