"I'll do it," volunteered Jack, "but--"

"Say no more," interjected Rand, "we couldn't do worse and Don is
almost as bad. I reckon, Pepper, it must be you or I."

"If we don't want to starve," agreed the boy.

"If you and Jack will clean the fish and Don will bring the water
and wash the dishes I'll do the cooking," went on Rand. "Is that
fair?"

"That's fair, all right," agreed the others.

"All right, then," ordered Rand, "get busy."

While Jack and Pepper were getting the fish ready, Rand brought
the stove from the boat, set it up and had it burning, and the pan
hot by the time Pepper came with the first installment of fish.

"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."