Then the four of them
loaded enough more rock on the bridge to take the place of the
stores to be landed.
There were not many things that could be left: water, and half the
provisions and, preserved goods; a few cooking utensils; blankets,
an extra compass, two revolvers, a hatchet and saw; a light silk
tent; matches and candles, a medicine case, ammunition, and, to make
way for the gasoline that it was hoped might be recovered, all the
extra oil on board--for the reservoirs yet contained an ample supply
to make the trip back to the scene of Elmer's attack.
At a safe distance from the balloon Elmer had returned to his
favorite occupation. He got a fire going and while the other boys
replaced the rocks on board with bags of sand from the margin of the
lake the colored lad made hot coffee and broiled some bacon. It was
a luxury after the cold, dry food of the long night.
"When you come back this evening," exclaimed Bob jovially, "I'll try
to have a juicy venison steak."
"An' hot biscuits," chimed in Elmer.
"And a good bed of balsam boughs," added Bob, "and a fine camp fire,
and we can sit wound it and talk it all over.
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