"First of all I think we had better build a fire," suggested Gif. "Then, after we have warmed up and rested a bit, we can prepare supper."
With so much wood at hand it was an easy matter to start a campfire. This was placed at one side of the opening under the fallen cedars, the boys taking care that the flames should not reach the trees. With their hatchet they cut off some of the cedar boughs and scattered these over the ground for a flooring. The driest they placed to one side to use for bedding later.
Fortunately while at Henryville they had purchased a fair-sized box of cocoa. This box was of tin, and Jack suggested that they dump the cocoa out on a sheet of paper which he had in his pocket and then use the tin for a pot in which to boil water.
"It won't make a very large cocoa pot, but it will be better than nothing, and we can fill it as many times as we please."
The boys had several collapsible drinking cups with them, and these they would take turns in using.
"I'm mighty glad we bought that cheese," remarked Spouter. "That will help out quite a little," for they carried a piece weighing almost two pounds.
Of the other things purchased at Henryville, only a box of fancy crackers could be used. There were two dozen all told, and these were divided by Randy, four crackers to each cadet.
"We'll clean a couple of the rabbits and see what we can do about broiling them over the flames," said Gif. "Now you fellows can show what you can do," he added, with a grin. "It's all well enough to work when you've got the tools to work with, but quite another story when you've got next to nothing."
Water was obtained by melting a quantity of the snow, and soon they had the first can of hot cocoa ready. In the meanwhile several of the lads were broiling the rabbits as best they could.
"I know how I'm going to heat the next can of water," declared Andy. "I'm going to do as the Indians did--drop a clean, redhot stone into it." And this he did later on and got his boiling water in short order.
It was not a very satisfactory meal, but the lads had fun eating it, and they did not complain when they found portions of the broiled rabbits slightly burnt and found that four fancy crackers with cheese each did not take the place of a big pan of biscuits or a good-sized loaf of bread.