In arranging this he had made sure to leave the broad end toward the prevailing breeze, which at the time was from the west. This insured a good draught, once the fire was lighted; and would also conduce to the comfort of the cook bending over the coals, as it would blow the pungent smoke away from his face.
Phil, not knowing what they might strike away up in this section of Canada, had made sure to purchase certain supplies at a sporting goods emporium in New York, and which had come to him through the mails. Just what these were none of the other boys knew up to the present, though Phil had promised to tell them before long.
Of course they had coffee and tea, sugar, biscuits, bacon, salt pork, beans, rice, some canned goods and like things. And at McNab"s they had been fortunate enough to lay in quite a supply of b.u.t.ter and fresh eggs, that might last through half of their expected two weeks in the woods.
By the time darkness began to gather the shelter for the night had been completed, and they cl.u.s.tered around the fire intending to take things easy, as well as eagerly sniff the tempting odors that were beginning to permeate the neighboring atmosphere.
"Now is the chance to tell us, Phil, what under the sun you have in that big package you got from New York City before we left home," suggested X-Ray, who did not like to have anything that was connected with a mystery go long unexplained.
"Well, I suppose I had better keep my promise," laughed Phil, starting to cut the cords that bound the package in question; "or else you will have a fit. There never could be a secret when you were around."
"Oh! I don"t know about that," muttered X-Ray, giving Phil a wink, and then looking blandly toward the unconscious Ethan who did not dream that he was concerned in the matter in the least.
"Well, these are some of the concentrated foods that are used by prospectors and Arctic explorers, who can carry but a small pack on their backs, and yet may starve to death for all the game they can get.
They are splendid in their way, I"m told, though I must confess that outside of the condensed milk and the soups I never tasted any of these things. I know what they are, though."
The boys commenced examining the various articles for themselves.
"Now tell me what the d.i.c.kens _erbswurst_ can be?" demanded Ethan as he took up a strange roll that must have weighed several pounds, and looked like a sausage.
"Oh! that"s in common use in Germany, especially in the army. It is made of concentrated pea-meal ready to use, and with other vegetables, and some dried meat mixed in with it. You can eat it as it is, or made into a soup it is very fine, and will sustain life better than almost any other thing you could find."
"And what is this queer looking can that has a label telling that it is self-heating; explain to me how can that be?" asked X-Ray Tyson.
"That is really a wonderful discovery, and duck hunters shivering in their blind, on a winter morning, balloonists far up among the clouds, and all persons who need something warm to take away their shaky feeling, but can"t have a fire, find a great boon in those soups."
"But how can it be self-heating I"d like to know?" asked Ethan, scornfully.
"It is after all very simple," explained Phil. "The soup is in a second can, and the s.p.a.ce between the two is filled with dry quick-lime. When wanted, a small hole is cut in the top of the outer can and some water allowed to pa.s.s in. This you see generates a terrific heat, and in a jiffy the soup is made piping hot."
"Well, did you ever hear the beat of that?" exclaimed Lub, who had stopped his culinary labors long enough to look and listen to what was going on, for it really concerned his department.
"And here we have some desiccated vegetables, looks like," remarked Ethan, as he pointed to a variety of cans.
"Those are what they call dehydrated vegetables," explained Phil. "They are potatoes, spinach, onions and cabbage in a concentrated form. One can weighing from four to twelve ounces is equal to from seven to fifteen pounds of the fresh stuff."
"But how do you use them?" asked Lub, wonderingly, thinking no doubt what a labor saving device this would be for the cook.
"Oh!" Phil told him, "just add the proper amount of water to a small portion, and cook it the same way you would the fresh vegetable. They are used pretty generally in the United States navy, I understand; for it is sometimes hard to get green stuff, and a diet of salt meat is apt to induce scurvy in sailors."
"Well, I see you have soup tablets," continued X-Ray Tyson, examining still further, "something that is called trumilk, and another that goes by the name of truegg; do you mean to tell me these are all right, and that you can actually carry eggs along in powder shape?"
"Yes, two of those cans of condensed eggs are equal to four dozen of the fresh variety," explained Phil. "They say they are fine, scrambled or in omelettes, and that is the way we can use them after our other supply gives out."
"Well, if only you"ve got the money to buy things," remarked Ethan, "there"s no need of anybody going into the woods, and taking chances of starving these days, when they supply all these wonderful condensed things. But as for me I"d rather just keep them for an emergency, and live on the fat of the land as long as I could find any fresh meat."
The old Scotch-Canadian was greatly impressed with the explanations given by Phil. He examined the various cans and packages closely, and seemed to handle them almost reverently, as though it was utterly beyond his ken how they could so preserve eggs and things in such a condensed form. And yet for years he had been using, off and on, milk that had been conserved after the same principle.
"Supper"s ready for serving, fellows; so get your pannikins where I can dish things out!" announced Lub about that time.
They were soon enjoying themselves about as well as any one could wish.
Really Lub was getting better at his profession all the time, and X-Ray as well as Ethan did not hesitate to tell him so.
"Now, I know you"re just giving me that taffy so as to influence me to keep on the job right along," urged Lub, a little suspicious when the "Greeks came bearing gifts," though his eyes did twinkle with gratification at hearing the warm praise, because time had been when the same fat boy was very green in connection with camp cookery, and afforded his chums many a hearty laugh over his blunders.
"Honest to goodness I mean every word of it, and more too, Lub!"
affirmed X-Ray.
"I never tasted a better cup of coffee," declared Ethan; "and these beans are warmed up to beat the band; while the bacon is as crisp and brown as--well, as I could fry it myself, and that"s the highest praise anybody would want to have handed out to them, I guess."
There was enough and to spare, for after the last appet.i.te had been appeased Lub declared that it was a shame to leave that small portion, so he would have to put it away himself, which he accordingly did, though they warned him he was in danger of bursting from over feeding.
Afterwards they made themselves comfortable, each with his warm blanket about his shoulders, and facing the fire. A couple of logs rolled up near the blaze afforded them seats, and for at least two hours they continued to chat on every sort of subject.
Their home life was often touched upon, as well as previous outings in which they had taken part. Ethan even told "The" McNab what wonderful success he had had in his root-gathering and fur-trapping. On hearing how a single black fox skin had netted him three hundred dollars the Scotch farmer said he did not doubt it as he knew a man who had received three times that sum for an especially fine pelt.
"As for meself," he added, "it"s verra curious but I never even saw a black fox in all me trapping experience. They do be verra rare, they tell me. I have a good woman and three bairn at home, and a thousand dollars would be a muckle fortune for us, but I dinna expect sich luck to come my way. Ye are verra fortunate I must say, Ethan, lad."
Of course Lub had to t.i.tter at that, when X-Ray gave him a kick on the sly, as if to warn him to behave himself, so that their great secret might not be endangered by Ethan having his suspicions aroused.
Presently Lub began to yawn and stretch at a great rate. That might be taken for a sign that he was becoming sleepy, and wanted to turn in.
They had their several places portioned off under the temporary shelter, so that if Lub chose he could crawl in when he pleased.
He was evidently of a mind to do so, and had even started to rise to his feet, when the others heard him give vent to an exclamation.
"Didn"t that logger say Baylay owned several dogs, fellows?" he demanded.
"Why yes, he did," replied X-Ray, quickly; "but what makes you ask such a thing as that, Lub?"
"Because I reckon then he must be somewhere around here right now, for there"s a strange animal nosing about in the shadows over where I threw what sc.r.a.ps were left of our supper!"
At that every one looked. Sure enough they could see a moving figure, that did look like a pretty good-sized dog.
Phil, however, uttered a low word of caution.
"Sit tight, everybody!" he hissed, "until I reach out and take hold of my gun!"
"But, Phil, go slow if that"s one of the poacher"s dogs!" warned Lub in alarm.
"Dog nothing!" came from Phil as he took up his gun; "that"s a gray wolf I tell you!"
CHAPTER III
FISHING THROUGH THE ICE WITH TIP-UPS