"You can give orders all right," grunted Bill, "there"s no doubt about that. I see myself lugging wood."
All laughed heartily at this reference to Horace"s fondness for commanding, and the younger of the comrades replied;
"All right, Horace, you may be my lieutenant. Only you must tell me what there is to be done, and I will give the orders."
Although by this arrangement the youngest of the party would be deprived of most of his powers, he readily agreed, saying:
"Wood must be collected for the fire, the food and dishes must be unpacked, supper cooked and water located."
"Better put me on the job of getting water, because I shall picket the horses where they can get a drink," declared the ranchman.
"Then, Larry, you and Bill build the fire and get supper ready.
Horace, I"ll put you in charge and you must arrange the place for us to sleep. I can see some pine trees yonder. Break off some limbs and spread them on the ground. Then put the blankets over them. I"m going with Mr. Wilder to bring the water and to learn how to hobble the horses."
"You"re a fine commander to be lieutenant for--not," declared Horace. "Gave me the meanest job of all." Yet he lost no time in obeying.
Quickly each one set about the work a.s.signed to him, for the sight of the doughnuts and other good things to eat, after their long ride, made them hungry.
"Get the coffee pot and then sling the reins of Lightning and Buster on your arm and come with me, Tom," said Mr. Wilder. "I"ll take Blackhawk, because he"s still cranky, and the other two."
The ranchman, however, let the ponies lead him more than he led them, for he knew their instinct would take them to the nearest water.
Yet there was no need of their guidance, for in a few minutes the ears of the hunters caught the sound of running water.
"That"s a brook," declared Mr. Wilder, and quickly he led the way to a spot where they found a fair-sized pool formed by a stream coming from the hills.
The coffee pot was a monster, holding all of two gallons, and this the ranchman directed Tom to fill before allowing the ponies to satisfy their thirst.
As the animals were drinking Mr. Wilder took the lariats he had brought and tied an end around the left ankle of each pony, making another noose round the hind ankle on the same side at such a distance that there was about three feet of the rope between the hoofs.
"Such a short line makes it impossible for them to run or even walk very well," he explained, "so they will just stay here and browse,
"Now we"ll remove the bridles. Always remember to hobble your pony before unbridling."
"But the rope ends?" asked Tom.
"In a place like this, where there are no rocks between which they can get bound, you can let them drag. When it is rocky, you can wind the rope loosely round their necks."
Before the task was finished they heard Horace calling.
"Hey, you! Hurry with that coffee pot!" he shouted. "We want to start it boiling."
"Then come and get it," replied his father.
But Tom had already picked it up and was carrying it toward the camp fire, which was blazing cheerily beneath the big tree. Taking the bridles, Mr. Wilder soon followed.
Larry had spread a blanket on the ground for a tablecloth and arranged the plates, knives and forks. In the middle he had made a pile of doughnuts and around them set three pies.
To Bill had fallen the task of cooking, and he was busy frying eggs and bacon in a long-handled pan, which he rested on a bed of coals.
At the sight of Tom and the coffee pot, he called:
"Tell Horace to pour some water into the drinking cups, put the coffee in the pot and set it in the fire. Supper"ll be ready before the coffee unless you hurry."
But Tom was not a boy to shirk work, and directing his brother to bring the cups, he sent his aide for the coffee while he prepared a good hot bed of coals.
The odor from the sputtering bacon whetted their appet.i.tes, and all but Bill devoted their energies to hurrying the coffee and to such good purpose that they disproved the old saying, "A watched pot never boils."
At last all was ready, and the hunters squatted tailor fashion on the ground, each before his plate of eggs and bacon and a steaming cup of coffee.
"My, but this tastes better than anything I ever ate before,"
declared Larry.
"Because the ride has given you a keen appet.i.te," said the ranchman with a smile.
The others were too busy eating to offer any comment, and the meal progressed in silence till almost the last bit of food had disappeared.
"Hop Joy certainly can cook," complimented Tom as he reached for another doughnut from the fast vanishing pile.
"That"s what I told you," returned Horace. "From the way they are going, it"s a good thing I went back and put in an extra supply when Hop wasn"t looking."
"He"ll fix you when we get back!" cried Bill. "Tom, who does the dishes? For your benefit and before my young brother gets a chance to speak, I"ll tell you that the cook never washes the dishes."
"Oh, what a whopper!" cried Horace. "Tom, the cook always washes them. That"s all he does, wash dishes and cook."
"Well, we"ll all help," declared the youthful commander of the camp.
This arrangement met with laughing approval, and because of the many hands, the task was soon finished.
"And now, as we must be up with the dawn if we are going to get a shot at any deer, I suggest that we turn in," remarked Mr. Wilder.
"Where did you put the pine boughs, Horace? I don"t see them."
"I left them over by the tree," replied the lieutenant, grinning.
"I didn"t know how many each of you would want, so I thought the best way was to let you pick out all you pleased."
"Lazy bones! Lazy bones!" shouted the other boys, and Tom cried:
"That trick won"t work this time. Now, hurry and tote the boughs over."
Making a face at his superior, Horace Jumped tip and soon came back, dragging a monster pile of fragrant pine branches, which he quickly separated into five heaps.
"Does the honored general wish me to wrap and tuck each one in his bed or will they do that themselves?" he asked, bowing in mock deference.
"The honored general sentences you to do the dishes in the morning for that," returned Tom with a.s.sumed dignity, and in rare good humor they quickly placed their saddles as pillows and unrolled their blankets.
Fixing the fire so that it could not spread and cause any harm, Mr.
Wilder bade the boys turn in, and soon they were sound asleep.