overboard, when we can tie up so nicely right here?" remarked Step Hen.

"Sure," echoed Giraffe, "and then, in the morning I'll show you I
haven't forgotten how to make the finest fire you ever heard tell about.
Oh I some pumpkins about that same game, ain't I, Bumpus? You ought to
know, because you saw me make one when we was nigh about froze to death
up there in Maine, and didn't have a single match along with us."

"Well, anyhow, wait till morning," said Thad, knowing that once the tall
scout got started on his favorite hobby, there was no way of stopping
him until he had the fever satisfied.

Giraffe had once made up his mind that he could make a fire in the
primitive fashion by using a little bow, and a revolving stick. Once
this trick is learned and it can usually be accomplished in a minute or
two; but most boys find themselves unable to master the feat, and give
up in despair after long trying.

The tall scout had persisted even when he met with all manner of
discouragements. Sometimes, just when he seemed on the point of
success, Bumpus would stumble over him, and end the attempt; then an
alarm would be sounded when he had gotten his tinder to smoking; and
again he lose out. But in the end he had mastered the secret, and ever
afterwards it was one of his proudest accomplishments; so that Giraffe
always carried that little bow, and some dry tinder along, whenever he
left camp, even though it would have been muck easier to put some
matches in his pocket.

Of course, as they sat there for a while longer, after the boat had been
securely tied up to the shore, the talk was mostly about smugglers.