"This means that we'll eat our first meal aboard at noon to-day,"
remarked Giraffe who seemed determined that no regular feeding time
might be neglected, if he could help it.

"You ought to be a happy fellow, Giraffe," remarked Davy Jones, "after
taking a look over the piles of grub we've got aboard. Why, do you know
there's a whole big ham, two slabs of bacon, and all sorts of good
things. No danger of any of us going hungry on this excursion; unless
the old tub should happen to sink, and leave us marooned on some rocky
island."

"Oh! see here, stop joking about that sort of thing, Davy," remonstrated
Bumpus, shivering as though he felt a cold draught; "I know right well
that if such a horrible thing ever did happen to us, the rest of you'd
make up your minds to begin on me the first thing."

"Well, that's the penalty you have to pay, Bum, pus, for being so
tempting," chuckled Step Hen; "now, who'd ever think of picking Giraffe
out for a dainty meal; why he's as skinny as an old crow."

"There are times when it pays right well to be thin," remarked the scout
held up to derision, "and that'd be one of 'em, I reckon."

They were by now far away from the ore dock, and the barges that were
loading; indeed it was only with an effort they could see either, for a
haze had crept over the surface of the lake. The Chippeway Belle had
been going along at quite a fair pace, thought making more noise than
was agreeable to either Thad or Allan, when all at once, without the
least warning there was heard a loud report. Instantly the sound of the
engine ceased.