Billie was not altogether helpless. He could stand on his weak legs and even walk a little without support, but to tramp through the woods, or clamber up a hill, was to him an absolute impossibility. He had to content himself with enjoyments of a milder type. And, to do him justice, he seemed to have no difficulty in doing so. Perhaps he owed it to his mother, who had been a singularly contented woman and had taught Billie from his earliest years the truth that, contentment, with godliness, is great gain. Billie did not announce his belief in this truth, but he proclaimed it unwittingly by the more powerful force of example.
Breakfast is a pleasant meal at any time if the operator be hungry, but who shall describe the delights of breakfast when eaten in company with several thousand wild-fowl, in a romantic wilderness with fresh air laden with the perfumes of the vegetable kingdom encircling the person; the glorious sunshine dazzling the eyes; the sweet songs of animated nature thrilling the ears, and the gentle solicitations of an expectant appetite craving within? Words are wasted in such an effort. We feel constrained to leave itas we have not seldom left many a thing before nowto the readers more or less vivid imagination.
A blazing fire of pine-logs boiled two tin kettles and roasted two fat wild-ducks. In one of the kettles Archie compounded and stirred robbibooof which, perhaps, the less said the better. In the other, Billie infused a small quantity of tea. The roasting duckssplit open, impaled on sticks and set up before the firelooked after themselves till they began to burn, when they were turned by Archie and again neglected for a few minutes.
It was a glorious meal in all respects, and even Billie, whose appetite was moderately strong, enjoyed it immenselynone the less that he had asked a blessing on it before beginning, and all the more that he sympathised fully with his brother in his possession of an amazinga shamelessly robustcapacity for food.
Now, well go to work, remarked Archie, wiping his mouth with a sigh of contentment, (he had nothing else to wipe it with!) after finishing the last spoonful of robbiboo, the last limb of duck and the last mug of tea.
Such a remark at such a period in the entertainment caused Billie to laugh.
Why, Archie, youve been at work this half-hour, and theres nothing left to go to work upon now.
You know quite well, Little Bill, that I refer to the days work. What is it to be? Provisions must be got if the camp is not to starve, and you and I are bound to do our share. Shall we go to Willow Point and shoot ducks and geese, or cross the lake and trawl for fish?