and the free and easy comradeship with which they chaffed each other.

From the beginning of the trip they had been full of fun and merriment.
Their college year had just closed, and they were like frolicsome colts
turned out to pasture. There was hardly an incident of the journey that
did not furnish to their keen, unjaded senses something of interest and
amusement. Their cup of life was full and they drained it in great
draughts.

But just now even their effervescence was calmed somewhat by the heat and
spirit of drowsiness that hovered over the car.

"Gee," yawned the youngest of the three, stretching out lazily. "Isn't it
nearly twelve o'clock? I wonder when that dusky gentleman will come along
with the call to dinner."

"Always hungry," laughed one of the others. "The rest of us eat to live,
but Tom lives to eat."

"You've struck it there, Dick," assented the third. "You know they say
that no one has ever been able to eat a quail a day for thirty days hand
running, but I'd be willing to back Tom to do it."

"Well, I wouldn't quail at the prospect," began Tom complacently, and
then ducked as Dick made a pass at him.

"Even at that, I haven't got anything on you fellows," he went on, in an
aggrieved tone. "When you disciples of 'plain living and high thinking'
get at the dinner table, I notice that it soon becomes a case of high
living and plain thinking."