The other three stared at each other in amazement. The rebellion of their chum had come like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky.
"Er—what did—what did we do?" faltered Sid.
"Did you ever hear the like?" came from Phil.
"He's mad all right—clear through," spoke Frank. "I guess we have been rather piling it on."
"It's the first time I ever knew Tom to act like this," said Phil, soberly.
"He has done a lot of work," put in Sid.
"And we have been finding a deal of fault," added Frank.
"How can we square him?" asked Phil.
"You go out and talk to him, Frank," proposed Sid.
"No, I've got a better scheme than that," came from the Big Californian. "Let's finish slicking up in here ourselves, go on and get grub ourselves, and then invite him in. He'll see we didn't mean all we said, then."
"Good idea," declared Phil.
"We'll do it," agreed Sid.
Thereupon, paying no more attention to the justly sulking lad by the water's edge, the three chums shortly had the sleeping tent in some kind of shape. An oil stove had been brought, and on this some coffee was soon steaming away, while
