"And you the cook! I don't think you're much of a cook after all.
It's lucky for us you didn't know it, I guess," said Stacy, with a
grimace.

"Lucky for Tad, you mean. Precious little of those canned peaches
we'll ever see. Come, fall to. You'll make me late with my dishes,"
urged Ned.

They were hungry enough, and the spiderful of beans and bacon looked
good to them.

"What, do we have to eat with a spoon--a large spoon, at that?"

"You do, unless you prefer to use your fingers, Professor. We are not
allowed by you to do that, but I presume you can if you want to.
Chunky doesn't need any. We will divide the two spoons between the
three of us," said Ned, with a twinkle in Stacy's direction.

But his levity did not disturb the fat boy in the least. After having
had his plate heaped with beans and bacon, Stacy calmly took from his
pocket two sharp sticks that he had cut and trimmed just before
supper. On one of these he speared a piece of bacon, stringing
several beans on the other, and carrying both mouthward at the same
time.

The boys burst out laughing.

"Well, will you look at the chopsticks!" exclaimed Ned. "I always
thought he'd make a good Chinaman."