The flimsy pile of brush and vines, after the fire had burned away its
foundations, gave way beneath the weight of the stones. Coffee pot,
coffee and stones went down with a crash and a clatter.

"Save the coffee pot!" shouted Ned, giving Chunky a push.

"Save it yourself. I'm not the cook," answered the fat boy, who
chanced to be nearest to the fire. "I told you something was going to
happen."

In the meantime Tad Butler had sprung to the rescue. With one
well-directed kick he had scattered the brush and rescued the coffee
pot before serious damage had been done to it.

Rushing to the river, he scooped up a fresh supply of water, planting
the pot in the center of the fire and heaping the burning stuff about
it.

"We'll have some coffee after all," he glowed. "I don't think Ned is
much of a cook, do you, Chunky?"

"'Bout as good as you are at making fires to cook by, I guess,"
mumbled Chunky.

Tad laughed with them at his own expense.

The water was soon boiling, however, and with the canned stuff laid on
the canvas which had been spread out close to the water, the jolly
party shortly after that were able to sit down to breakfast.