"What have you found?" asked the Professor.

"Bacon. Enough for all of us and perhaps some to spare."

"Then, we are not so badly off after all, Master Ned. How about the
coffee?"

"Coffee went down the hill."

"The tea also?"

"Yes. The whole business. Neither have we any butter or lard. We
shall have to cook the beans in themselves and eat them without
seasoning."

"Cook the bacon with them. That will furnish the salt," suggested
Stacy.

"Large head," laughed Ned. "I'll do it. Go fetch me some water."

Stacy hurried away whistling, and in a few minutes returned with his
sombrero filled with clear, cool mountain water.

"Here, here! What do you mean? Think we want to drink out of that
old hat?" jeered Ned. "Get a pail; what ails you?"

"Nothing ails me. It's the pail you want to find fault with--not with
me."