"What's the matter with having some of the rabbits and squirrels for lunch?" asked Sam Day.
"Perhaps we can cook them, Sam," returned Dave. "But we had better depend on the lunch hamper for something to eat. By the way, we'll have to take turns carrying the hamper. It is rather heavy."
"Chip Macklin and I are going to carry it first," said a tall, strong youth named Gus Plum. "It's not so very heavy, although it is filled with good things."
"Don't lose it, on your life!" cried Phil.
"Lose it!" echoed Roger Morr. "Banish the thought! We'll form a guard around Gus and Chip, so they can't get away with it on the sly."
"Not so much as a doughnut must be eaten until we reach the island and start a campfire," said Dave. "Those are orders from headquarters," he added, with a grand flourish.
"Orders accepted, admiral!" cried Gus, and made a bow so profound that his skates went from under him, sending him to his knees. This caused a wild laugh, and the powerfully-built youth got up in a hurry, looking rather sheepish.
"I'm ready now," said Ben, as he left the bench and settled his skating cap on his head. "Come on, let's get away before old Haskers calls us back for something or other. He just loves to spoil a fellow's outing."
