"We'll obey 'em anyhow," said Roger, and the others nodded assent.

"All right," went on Jimmy. "The first thing to do is to calculate how
long our rations will last. There's enough for one day if we each took
about all we wanted. Or there's enough for two days, or more, if we
stint ourselves."

"Then we'll go on a diet!" declared Bob. "There's no telling how long
we may be in getting back to our lines, and while we might be able to
find something to eat along the way, it won't do to take chances."

"I thought you'd look at it that way," said Jimmy. "As for water, it
rains so infernally often in this country that I imagine we shan't
be thirsty. But we'll always carry the canteen full. Now, then, I'll
appoint Roger as Secretary of the Interior--that is, I'll make him the
cook and give him charge of the rations," and Jimmy handed the canvas
bag of food over to his chum.

"There isn't anything to cook," said Roger, as he looked in the bag.
"It's all emergency ration stuff."

"So much the easier for you," declared Jimmy. "Now that's settled, the
next thing to decide is how to get to our lines."

"Keep right on going the way Captain Dickerson told us," suggested
Bob.

"That's what I want to consider," Jimmy went on. "Do you all think
that is the wisest course to follow?"