“Gee! that smells good,” called Jack a little later when the frying fish, under Rand’s skillful manipulation, began to send forth savory odors.  “You can sure cook, Rand.”

“Ah done reckon dat am a fac’, foh shuah,” said Rand.

“Hurry up, Rand,” broke in Pepper.  “I can’t wait much longer.”

“All ready, sah,” called Rand.  “Dem fishes am prognosticated to ah turn.”

Something passing on the river attracted attention, and the boys all walked a few paces toward the water.

At this instant, as their backs were turned, a boy ran swiftly from a nearby clump of bushes, snatched the pan from the stove, overturning the latter as he did so, and silently dashed back into the woods.

It was done so quickly and adroitly that Pepper, who was the first to catch sight of him, had scarcely time to shout: 

“There goes Monkey Rae, and he has got our fish.”

“What is it?” asked Rand in bewilderment.

“Monkey Rae,” cried Pepper; “he’s stolen our fish!  Come on, boys.  After him!”

“Well, of all things!” exclaimed Rand, “that takes the cake.”

“I t-t-think it takes t-t-the fish,” amended Pepper, as he dashed away.

The boys set out at once in pursuit of the thief, but he had too long a start, and perhaps, some knowledge of the locality, and after a vain hunt they straggled back to the boat without having found any trace of him.

“Well, that’s the meanest thing yet,” grumbled Pepper, looking at the overturned stove.  “The oil has all run out and we can’t cook any more,” he went on, with so gloomy an expression that, in spite of their anger against Monkey Rae, the others could not help laughing.

CHAPTER VII

THE COLONEL

“What’s the matter, boys?” said a cheery voice behind them, and they turned quickly to meet the smiling glance of a man who was sitting on a rock at the edge of the glade.

He was tall, erect, and of military bearing.  Quick and alert, in spite of his snow-white hair and mustache.

“Why, Colonel Snow!” cried Jack in astonishment; “where did you come from?”

“Oh, I saw you some time ago as you were coming ashore,” replied the colonel, “and I walked down to meet you.  What’s the trouble, the enemy been making an attack?”

“Looks that way,” answered Rand.  “Monkey Rae made a raid on the commissary and carried off the fish we had cooked.”

“That’s nothing to be concerned over,” continued the colonel.  “Why don’t you cook some more?”

“Can’t,” replied Pepper, “he upset the stove and spilled all the oil we had.”

“Stove!” ejaculated the colonel in scorn.  “What do you want with a stove?”

“Why, you can’t cook without a stove,” replied Pepper, “and, besides, he stole our pan.”

“Pan!” exclaimed the colonel, “and plates, too.  When you are out on a tramp all you need is a knife, a tincup and a match.  Anybody got a match?”