Four Afloat Part 27

"Thunder! That's so; Tommy's got the boat. Can't we pull up anchor and chug over to the wharf?"

"I don't want to try it," was the reply. "We might make it all right and we might not. There are two or three small boats between here and there and I don't want any bills for damages. Let's see what there is in the larder."

They went down together and rummaged.

"Here's bacon," said Nelson, "and plenty of bread."

"And potatoes," added Dan. "And cereal, although I never tried it for luncheon."

"And jam and jelly," said Bob, "and a can of peaches."

"And cheese," continued Dan.

"And one egg," said Nelson.

"Saved!" cried Dan. "Here's three cans of corned-beef hash! Oh, yum, yum! Me for the corned beef!"

"Oh, we've got plenty of stuff here," said Nelson cheerfully. "We'll have some boiled potatoes and hash, tea, bread, cheese, and jam. What more could we want?"

"Well," answered Dan, "far be it from me to throw cold asparagus on your menu, Nel, but it does seem that a tiny pat of b.u.t.ter would help a little, now doesn't it?"

"Remember what Tom told you about your complexion," said Nelson severely.

"I wonder if he'll find any luncheon?" said Dan.

"Maybe he's more concerned just now with breakfast," said Bob. "As far as we know he hasn't had that yet!"

"Poor old Tommikins," muttered Dan. "And he so fond of eating, too! I really believe that if Tommy missed two meals in succession he'd die of starvation."

"Well, let's get busy," said Nelson. "We'll help you, Bob."

"All right; there's the potatoes and here's the knife. Peel them thin, now. By the way, how would they taste fried?"

"Oh, great!" cried Dan, smacking his lips. "Say, I believe this old fog makes a fellow hungrier than anything else!"

"Fried it is, then," answered Bob. "There's plenty of lard. Find the can opener, Dan, and yank the lid off of one of those cans of hash."

"We never got a can opener!" exclaimed Nelson. "I forgot all about it.

Use the old potato knife, Dan."

"All right. Say, this is great fun, isn't it? _Wow!_"

"Cut yourself?" asked Nelson.

"Oh, not much. Next time I see a store I'm going to buy an opener if it costs ten cents! _Thunder!_"

The can slipped out of his hands and went skimming across the oilcloth floor. Luckily the top was only half off and very little of the contents was spilled. Dan rescued it, seated himself on the steps and, placing it firmly between his knees, sawed away at the tin.

"There you are!" he said triumphantly. "It smells mighty good, too!

Hurry up, Nel, with those potatoes, or I'll perish before your very eyes."

"Where's the lard?" asked Bob. "Tommy said there was lots of it. Look in the ice box, Bob."

"Here it is: 'Leaf Lard,' whatever that is."

"Got any water on for tea, Bob?" asked Nelson.

"No, put some in the kettle, will you? I'll cut these potatoes up, what you've left of them; I rather think we'd get more if I fried the skins!"

"Oh, you run away and play," answered Nelson. "They're peeled to the Queen's taste."

"Perhaps the Queen had more potatoes than we have," was the answer. "You get out of here, Dan, you're in the way."

"Well, I'll go up and discover Tommy."

"You'll set the table," said Nelson, "that's what you'll do."

"Sure! How do you do it?"

"Put the cloth on and I'll come and help you," answered Nelson.

"Aye, aye, sir! A sailor's life for me!"

Twenty minutes later they were seated around the table on which steamed a dish of corned-beef hash, nicely browned about the edges, a dish of hashed brown potatoes, and three cups of very strong tea. There was bread, too, and cheese in a little crockery jar, and jam and crackers.

Dan uttered a sigh of content as he piled his plate.

"Tommy doesn't know what he's missing," he said.

"I wish to goodness he'd show up," said Bob. "Is it clearing up any, Dan?"

"Not so you'd notice it," replied that youth who had been up on deck a moment before. "It's as thick as ever and maybe thicker."

"Well, Tommy'll turn up all right, I guess," said Nelson.

"When he does I'll bet he will be hungry enough to eat raw dog," said Dan. "Gee, but this hash is swell! Who's got the bread?"

"Have some b.u.t.ter, won't you, Dan?" begged Nelson.

"Well, I should say not! With my complexion? What are you thinking about? Say, how would a little lard taste on the bread, fellows?"

"You might try it," answered Bob. "I dare say it wouldn't be any worse than some b.u.t.ter I've met."

They were very hungry, very merry, and very noisy, and as a consequence of the latter fact they did not hear the sound of oars outside or of feet on the deck, nothing, in fact, until some one stumbled wearily down the steps and appeared at the stateroom door.

"Tommy!" cried Dan, and--

"Tommy!" echoed Bob and Nelson.

Tommy, very tired looking and extremely damp, dragged himself across the floor and sank onto the edge of a bunk, staring famishedly at the table.