CHAPTER XXII
CHRISTMAS IN CAMP
With new hope in their hearts the chums followed William. They did notmind the cold or hunger now, but hurried on, intent on reaching theirtents, donning dry clothing, and starting a roaring fire. Then theywould have something to eat.
On the way William told them of his new position. Following hisexperience in New York, after he had run away from the cruel seacaptain, he had worked at odd jobs. Then, on his return to his home,near Darewell, the chums' fathers had gotten a good position for him.
Some time previous to his opportune meeting with the lost lads, Williamexplained, he had taken service with the lumber company, which ownedmost of the woods where the winter camp was. It was part of the youth'sduties to go from camp to camp with documents and messages.
"It's fine, too," he said, "when the weather is good. When it's too bad,I stay in camp with the men, but I must have made a miscalculation thistime, for I was caught in the storm. But it happened for the best, afterall."
"That's what," agreed Bart. "If it hadn't been for you I don't know whatwe'd have done. Can you stay in camp with us for a while?"
"Well, long enough to have dinner, if you've got enough to eat."
"Oh, we've got plenty," Ned assured him. "Bart's a good shot, you know,"and the chums took turns in explaining how they had come to make awinter camp in the woods. They said nothing about the missing diamondbracelet, however, nor about the mysterious man.
Camp was reached none too soon for the comfort of our heroes. They foundnothing disturbed, and from their stock of dry wood, under one tent, aroaring fire was made. The lads changed to dry clothes, had a hot meal,which William Perry shared with them, and then he said he must be on hisway.
"Can't you spend a week with us?" invited Frank, as the lumber lad wasabout to go.
"I'm afraid not. This is my busy season, you know."
"I have it!" cried Fenn.
"Let's hear it, Stumpy," suggested Bart. "Out with it."
"Well," went on the fleshy lad, "next Tuesday is Christmas. You don'thave to work Christmas, do you, William?"
"No, I guess not."
"Then I'll tell you what to do. Spend Christmas here with us. We'regoing to have a good time. Not much in the way of presents, for wedidn't bring any out in the woods, but we'll have a Christmas tree, evenif Bart does want to hang up his stockings," and Fenn winked at hischums.
"It sounds good," spoke William, wistfully. "I don't believe I can gethome for Christmas, or I would go see my folks."
"And we'll have roast wild turkey, rabbit stew, partridge potpie andbear steak, also some venison, if Bart has any luck," went on Fenn.
"It sounds better and better."
"And then there's going to be a plum pudding," added Fenn proudly.
"A plum pudding!" they all cried.
"Yes, I brought all the materials along. We're going to have a regularplum pudding for Christmas!"
"Then I'm coming," promised William. "I'll get along now, and hurry onto the lumber camp. I'll ask the boss for a few days off, so I can gethere Saturday, and stay over until the next Wednesday, which will be theday after Christmas."
They voted that plan a good one, and soon afterward William was trampingback through the woods, having promised to be on hand at the timespecified.
The chums felt no ill effects from their night in the woods, for theyfollowed Bart's advice and took plenty of hot ginger tea, made from thematerials Alice had supplied.
The next few days were busy ones for the campers. They made someimprovements about the tents, arranged an extra bed for William, andbrought in a good supply of wood, which was put under shelter. Bart wenthunting several times, and did manage to get a buck, but it was smallerthan the one he had chased. Several rabbits, a number of partridges, andsome wild turkeys were shot, which, together with the supplies alreadyon hand, promised an abundance for Christmas.
Fenn, meanwhile, true to his promise, was busy over the plum pudding,which, he said, would take several days to make.
"I should think it would," remarked Ned, one afternoon, when Fenn wasoccupied with chopping bowl and knife in the cook tent. "It's a wonderyou didn't start last Fourth of July, Stumpy."
"That's all right, I know how to make this pudding," asserted Fenn, witha superior air.
"He's mighty proud of it," whispered Frank to Ned, as they moved away."I wish we could play some joke on him."
"Maybe we can."
"I'll think of one," went on Frank, who had not yet gotten over hisfailure with the pancakes, for which he partly blamed Fenn.
William arrived that Saturday afternoon, and was soon made to feel athome in the camp. He was given a spare gun, and on the Monday beforeChristmas, all five went for a hunt, though they did not expect to gofar from camp.
They bagged some small game, and Bart made a remarkable kill of a braceof partridges, getting one each with his left and right barrels, when itseemed that both birds would escape.
"That's fine shooting, Bart," remarked William.
"Oh, Bart's a good shot," answered Ned proudly, and not at all jealous.But before long Bart was destined to make a more remarkable shot thanthat.
As the boys had said there was to be practically nothing in the way ofgiving each other presents while in camp. Fenn, for the joke of thething, rigged up a small Christmas tree, on which were hung pretendedgifts.
"Well, let's get to bed early to-night," suggested Frank on Christmaseve.
"And get up a good appetite for my plum pudding," suggested Fenn. "It'sa dandy! I've got it all made, and all I have to do is to warm it, andmake the sauce. It's in that box," and he pointed proudly to one in thecook tent.
Christmas was ushered in with a snow storm, which made the woods a placeof beauty. It was not very cold, and the boys, jumping from their beds,wished each other the joys of the season.
Most of the work of getting ready the dinner had been done the dayprevious, so there was little work Christmas morning. They went hunting,but did not see anything to shoot, and, in fact they did not needanything, as the larder was well stocked.
"Now," ordered Fenn, on their return, "get a move on, fellows. Get thetable set, and I'll look after the other things," for the turkey andsome partridges had been partly cooked the day previous, and needed onlya final turn in the oven. Several dainties had been brought from home,in anticipation of this feast, and they were now set out.
Such a dinner as it was! Eaten in the midst of a silent wilderness, withthe keen sharp air of winter all about, the boys had appetites thatwould have been the envy and despair of a person troubled withdyspepsia.
"Well, have you had enough, fellows?" asked Fenn, as he stood over theplatters of turkey and partridge.
"Too much," groaned Bart.
"I hope you have room for the pudding," spoke Fenn, anxiously. "Don'tsay you can't eat some of my plum pudding! Why I have a regular sauce,made from a recipe in a book, to eat on it."
"Oh, I guess we can tackle a slice," remarked William, and Fenn wentproudly to the stove, where the pudding was being kept hot, and soon hadit on the table, flanked by two bowls of savory sauce.
"Let me carve it," begged Ned, with a look at Frank and Bart. "I'llserve it, Fenn. You've done enough."
"All right," agreed the manufacturer of the pudding.
Ned carefully inserted a knife in the smoking heap on the plate. Fennlooked proudly on, as a generous piece was passed to William, as theguest of the day. Then Bart and Frank were served. The latter gave asudden outcry.
"I say, Fenn!" he demanded. "Is this a joke, or what? I thought you weregoing to give us plum pudding!"
"So I am. What's that on your plate?"
"I don't know what it is," declared Frank, indignantly, "only I know itisn't plum pudding. It looks like dough, but it's got the queerestcollection of plums in it that I ever saw. Look, here's a piece ofrubber boot, part of a shoe, some pine cones, some sticks of wood,stones, part of a rope, some brass cartridges and some
flannel bandages.Plum pudding! Take a look," and Frank passed to the astonished Fenn, theplate of the dubious looking mess.