, but-----"

"Yes, you certainly can get down," laughed Ned.

"Then we shall want quite a lot of soft, strong rope, about quarter-inch
Manila. I don't think of anything else. We ought to be able to pick up
whatever else we need after we get out there------"

"I guess that's all, fellows, isn't it?" asked Ned.

"All but the shouting," answered Stacy.

"You are well able to do that. You'd better practise up on those
favorite exclamations of yours---"

"What are they?"

"Y-e-o-w and W-o-w!"

"Who-o-o-p-e-e!" answered Chunky in a shrill, high-pitched voice.

Ned Rector clapped a hand over the fat boy's mouth with a resounding
smack. Chunky was jerked backward, his head striking the chair with a
bump that was audible all over the room.

"You stop that business. Do you forget where you are? That's all
right out in the wilds, but not in civilized society," declared Ned.

"Whe---where's the civilized society? Don't you do that to me again,
or I'll-----"

"Chunky's all right. Let him alone, Ned. Mother doesn't care how
much noise we make in here. In fact, she'd think something was wrong
with us if we didn't make a big racket. Chunky, if you are so full
of steam you might go out and finish the woodpile for me. I've got
to cut that wood this afternoon."

"No, thank you. I'm willing to hunt for the colored man in the
woodpile, but I'm a goat if I'll chop the wood. Why, I'd lose my
reputation in Chillicothe if I were seen doing such a common thing
as that."

"No, that would be impossible," answered Ned sarcastically.

"Eh? Impossible?" questioned Stacy.

"Oh, yes, yes, yes. I'll write it down for you so you'll understand
it and-----"

"He means that you can't lose what you don't possess," explained Walter.

Chunky grunted his disgust, but made no reply. The boys then fell to
discussing the proposed trip. Tad got out his atlas and together they
pored over the map of Arizona. After some time at this task, Chunky
pulled a much soiled railway map from his pocket. This gave them a
more detailed plan of the Grand Canyon.

"You see, I have to show you. When it comes to doing things Stacy
Brown's the one on whom you all have to fall back."

"You are almost human at times, Stacy. I'm free to admit that,"
laughed Tad. "Yes, this is just what we want."

Chunky inflated his chest, and, with hands clasped behind his back,
walked to the window and gazed out into the street, nodding patronizingly