eat behind the fallen tree until the
voices of the two men had died away in the direction of the lonely
cabin. Then they returned cautiously to the path and hastened toward the
main road. This they reached without meeting any one else, and set out
for camp at a pace that caused Jimmy to cry for mercy. But the shadows
lay long athwart the path, camp was still an indefinite distance away,
and they hurried the unfortunate youth along at a great rate in spite of
his piteous protests.

"It will be the best thing in the world for you, Doughnuts," said Joe
unfeelingly. "What you need is plenty of exercise to take that fat off
you."

"Besides, think of what a fine appetite you'll have when we reach camp,"
laughed Bob.

"I've got all the appetite now that I know how to have," groaned Jimmy.
"You fellows haven't a heart between you. Where other people keep their
hearts, you've all got chunks of Vermont granite."

"Flash a little speed, and don't talk so much," advised Herb. "Be like
the tramp that the fellow met going down the street one day with an
expensive rug."

"Who wants to be like a tramp?" objected Jimmy.

"You do, when you want to loaf all the time," retorted Herb. "But now
I'll tell you a good joke to make the way seem shorter. Jimmy got me
started, and now I'll have to get it out of my system."

"Is it about a tramp?" asked Jimmy suspiciously.

"Yes. And it's a pippin," Herb assured him. "It seems this tramp was
running down the street with an expensive rug over his shoulder, and
somebody stopped him and began to ask questions.

"'Where did you steal that rug from?' asked the suspicious citizen.

"'I didn't steal it,' answered the tramp, trying to look insulted. 'A
lady in that big house down the street handed it to me and told me to
beat it, and I am.'"

"Say, that's a pretty good joke, for you, Herb," said Bob, laughing with
the others.

"Oh, that's nothing. I've got others just as good," said Herb eagerly.
"Now, here's one that I made up myself the other day, but I forgot to
tell it to you. Why----"

"Suffering tomcats!" exclaimed Joe. "Don't tell us anything that you
made up yourself, Herb! Or, at least, wait until we get back and have
supper, so that we'll be strong enough to stand it."

"That's what I say," agreed Jimmy. "I'm so hungry that I can't think of
anything but supper, anyway. I know your joke is as good as usual, Herb,
but I wouldn't be able to appreciate it just now."

"It's discour