"And to think Merriwell should have done it. It would have served him right if that spring gun had filled him with shot!"
"Excuse these few tears!" exclaimed Blossom, who had secretly opened a bottle of beer and saturated his handkerchief with the contents.
He now proceeded to wring the handkerchief in a highly dramatic manner.
"Go ahead," laughed Frank. "Have all the sport you like over it, but I feel easy in my mind."
Some one proposed not to eat the turkey at all, but there was a dissenting shout at that. Then the bird was taken down into the cellar by three of them and stripped of its feathers. A pan and necessary dishes had been borrowed of Mrs. Harrington, and there was a roaring hard-wood fire in the open grate.
Harry officiated as cook, and set about his duties in a manner that showed he was not a novice, while the other lads looked on with great interest, telling stories and cracking jokes.
Merriwell offered to bet Robinson that woman was created before man, but Bandy was shy, scenting a sell. However, Frank kept at him, finally offering to let Robinson himself decide. At length Robinson "bit," and a small wager was made.
"Now," cried Bandy, "go ahead and prove that woman was made before man. You can't do it."
"That's dead easy," smiled Frank. "I know you will readily acknowledge that Eve was the first maid."
Then Robinson stopped short, for he saw the point, and the others were laughing heartily and applauding.
"The first maid!" he muttered. "Oh, thunder! What a soft thing I am! You have won, Merriwell."
The turkey began to give out a most delicious odor, and the boys snuffed the air with the keenest delight. How hungry they were! How jolly everything seemed! There was not one of the party who did not feel very grateful to think he was living that night.
At last the turkey was done. Harry pronounced it done, and it was certainly browned and basted in beautiful style. It was a monster, but there would be none too much for that famished crowd.
Frank and Blossom assisted Harry in serving. There were not enough plates for all, but that did not matter. They managed to get along all right. Some were forced to drink their beer out of the bottle, but nobody murmured.
The turkey was white and tender, and it was certainly very well cooked. It had a most delicious flavor. And how good the beer was with it! How those fellows jollied Merriwell because he would not even taste the beer. And still they secretly admired him for it. He had the nerve to say no and stick to it, which they could not help admiring.