"This bacon looks funny," retorted Stacy, holding up a piece at the
end of his fork. "Kind of looks as if something had happened to it."

"Just what I was going to say," added Walter.

"Yes, what has happened to it? It's as black as the Professor's
hat."

All eyes were fixed upon the cook. "I don't care, I couldn't help
it. If any of you fellows think you can do any better, you just try
it. Cook your own meals if you don't like my way of serving them
up. It wasn't my turn to get the breakfast, anyway."

"Our cook evidently has a grouch on this morning," laughed
Walter. "Doesn't agree with him to take a midnight bath."

"The bath was all right, but I object to having my cooking
criticised."

"The bacon does look peculiar," decided Professor Zepplin, sniffing
gingerly at his own piece.

Ned's face flushed.

"What did you do to it to give it that peculiar shade, young man?"

"Why, I soused it in the creek to wash it off, then laid it in the
fire to cook," replied Ned.