prang to his feet.

'I reckon three 'ull be enough for now, an' we ain't supposed to catch
more'n we can use. That's in the books. Got 'em safe?'

'Safe and sound,' replied Dick. 'But we can't eat these tiny things,
Chippy.'

'Not likely,' said the Raven, 'but they'll make first-rate bait: that's
wot I'm arter. Now for supper.'

'I'm ready,' said Dick. 'I'm as hungry as a wolf.'

'Right thing for one o' your patrol,' chuckled Chippy, and the boys
laughed as they raced back to their camp.

Chippy opened the heap of ashes and drew out the ball of clay. Very
carefully he broke the clay open and disclosed the white flesh of the
hedgehog, cooked to a turn, and smelling deliciously.

'Where'e the skin?' cried Dick; 'and I say, how good it smells!'

'Skin's stuck fast in the clay wi' the prickles,' replied the Raven.
'Cut some chunks o' bread while I get it out.'

Dick took the loaf and cut some good slices with his knife, while his
comrade dexterously divided the hedgehog into handy pieces. Then they
sat about their fire and made a glorious supper. The bread was good,
the milk was sweet, the hedgehog's flesh was tender and toothsome.
Dick forgot all about his first dislike as he ate his share and
applauded Chippy's skill and cookery.

CHAPTER XXXI

THE BIG TROUT

'The light's going fast,' remarked Dick, as supper was ending.

'So it is,' said Chippy, 'and I ain't got a fishin'-rod yet.'

He sprang to his feet and seized the tomahawk.

'Where are you going to get one?' cried Dick.

'Handy by,' replied the Raven, and marched to a thicket of hazels
within thirty yards of the camp fire. Dick heard one or two strokes of
the little axe, and then Chippy came back dragging a tall, straight
hazel stem nine or ten feet long. He sat down, took his knife, and
began to trim off the side branches.

'So that's your rod, is it?' said Dick.

'Jolly good un, too, for what I want,' returned Chippy. 'Ye'll soon
see.'

He trimmed the hazel and cut down the weaker end until he had a strong,
pliant rod about eight feet long. Next he unwound his hank of cord,
tied one end round the rod a foot from the bottom, then wound the cord
round the rod for its full length beyond, and tied it again at the top.
In this way the whole spring and strength of the rod would be behind
the cord, and aid it in its pull.

'No use just to fasten the line at the top,' commented Chippy; 'if yer
do, p'raps the top 'll break, an' t