He resorted to a simple and ordinary method.  He dug a narrow trench about six inches deep.  Upon this he built a fire, which he permitted to burn until there was a good accumulation of ashes.  Then he pushed the fire back and raked the ashes out of the trench.  The potatoes were now placed in a row at the bottom of the trench and covered with a good layer of hot ashes.  The fire was now drawn back over the ashes that covered the potatoes and permitted to burn briskly.

At the end of an hour he brushed the fire back at one end sufficiently to allow a long slender splinter to be pushed down through the ashes and through a potato.  The splinter did not penetrate the potato easily and the fire was drawn in again to burn for another quarter of an hour.  Then it was raked out and the potatoes removed, to find that, while the skins were not in the least burned or even scorched, the potatoes were done to a turn.

“You couldn’t have baked them better in your oven, Margaret,” laughed Doctor Joe.

“I never could have baked un half as well,” admitted Margaret, adding, “’tis a wonderful way of cookin’.”

“Doctor Joe’s fine cookin’ everything,” declared Andy.  “I always likes his cookin’ wonderful well.”

“Thank you, Andy.  That’s high praise,” acknowledged Doctor Joe, “but I could learn a great deal about cooking from Margaret.”

“I just does plain cookin’,” Margaret deprecated, but flushed with pleasure at the compliment.

On the last day of September, which was a Friday, David and Doctor Joe crossed over to the Hudson’s Bay Post and took Margaret with them for a visit to Kate Huddy, the Post servant’s daughter, where she was to remain while the Scouts were enjoying their camp at Hollow Cove.

David and Doctor Joe returned to The Jug on Saturday, and when the other members of the troop arrived in a boat on Sunday, had their own tent equipment and food packed and ready for the little expedition on Monday morning.

It was a jolly meeting.  The evening was cold, and when supper was eaten they gathered around the big box stove which crackled cheerfully, and Doctor Joe announced that as this was the first meeting of the troop they must organize and elect leaders, just as troops were organized everywhere else in the world.

When he had thoroughly explained the necessary steps he read to them a brief constitution and by-laws which he had previously prepared.  These he had them adopt in due form, and then asked some one to nominate a patrol leader.

Every one, with one accord, nominated David, and he was duly, solemnly, and unanimously elected.

“Now,” suggested Doctor Joe, “we must have an assistant patrol leader.  Who shall it be?”

“Andy,” said Seth Muggs.  “Andy’s been to the trails and he knows more about un than anybody exceptin’ Davy.”

“’Twouldn’t be fair,” objected Andy.  “Davy’s patrol leader.  ’Tis but right we put in one of you that comes from across the Bay.  I’m saying Peter Sparks, now.”