TWO MODEL CAMP COMPANIONS. 205 



his especial forte being the preparation of a meal. 

 He demonstrated on this trip that he fully under- 

 stood the art of camp-cooking. Pancakes were 

 his specialty, and these were cooked in a style 

 that would put many famous chefs to shame. 

 With a frying-pan in each hand, he would keep them 

 turning and twisting with a simple movement of the 

 wrist until the cake would turn over with a precision 

 that caused each part to be perfectly cooked. Nor 

 was anything else neglected while this was being 

 done, for the trout or venison steak was cooked to a 

 turn, and the coffee and biscuits were never known 

 to be amiss. 



The first camp was made at Wannacut Lake, and 

 while the Pathfinder and the naturalist unpacked the 

 horses and arranged the camp, Farrell prepared sup- 

 per, the first regular meal of the expedition. Fried 

 ham, boiled potatoes, fruit, pancakes, and coffee were 

 soon ready, and the signal which was always used on 

 this trip was given : 



"Square yourselves for action, boys." 



They " squared themselves," and the principal com- 

 ment was that they wanted more. The alkali water 

 of the lake so embittered the coffee and pancakes that 

 it was hard to swallow them, but they managed to 

 make a good meal. The village of Wannacut was 

 about a mile from camp, and after supper Farrell 

 went there with a bucket for water with which to 

 cook breakfast. 



The horses had a good supply of water and grass at 

 Rock Creek, and next day at two o'clock in the after- 

 noon Kettle River was reached. Here Farrell and 



