“We should worry about the fish,” I said, and I went over to the water and threw the fish into the water, stick and all. “He only brought us bad luck anyway,” I said. “Sure,” Garry said; “give me duck any day. Look at the size of that one, will you?” “I think it’s a goose,” Bert said. “I think it’s a swan,” Hervey said. “It’ll be much easier to eat a duck without any plates or knives or forks,” I said; “we should worry about fish. We can just take the duck’s legs and wings and—oh boy—we can just pick them dry.” “Hurry up with the duck,” Hervey called to Pee-wee; “we’re not going to bother about the fish. Come on, we’re hungry.” By that time Pee-wee was about half-way across the bridge. “It’s a decoy duck,” he panted out; “it’s—it’s—just made of wood——” “What?” I shouted. “What are you talking about?” Garry hollered at him. “This is no time for joking,” Hervey said. “Hurry up.” Pee-wee just came along with a kind of a shamefaced look, and I could see that the duck didn’t hang limp. “It’s made of wood, it’s a decoy duck,” he said. None of us spoke, we just looked at him. “Here, take it and see for yourself,” he said to me. I said, “Scout Harris, alias Raving Raven, alias Animal Cracker, you have done one good turn. You have brought your starving comrades a wooden duck just after they threw the fish into the creek. You have done your worst.” “What are you talking about?” he yelled. “It is true,” I told him; “the plot grows thicker. This is a funny-bone hike and nothing happens right. Sit down and starve with us. Here, give me the wooden duck. If we should catch a pig on this hike it would turn out to be pig iron. If we caught a cow it would turn out to be a cowslip. Don’t blame me, blame Hervey Willetts, he started it.” [Illustration: HERVEY WAS IN THE CREEK, SWIMMING FOR DEAR LIFE.] CHAPTER XVIII WE MEET A FRIEND All of a sudden, _splash_, Hervey was in the creek, swimming for dear life. We all stood on the shore watching him. “A marathon race with a fish,” Bert shouted. “Follow your leader,” I yelled at Hervey. “Leave it to me,” Hervey spluttered, “I’ll get him.” Down the creek we could see a stick bobbing. Pretty soon Hervey caught up with it and grabbed it. “Hurrah!” we all shouted. “I tell you what let’s do,” Pee-wee said. “Animal Cracker,” I said, “a boy scout is supposed to be polite. He’s not supposed to kill a brother scout. But if you make any suggestions or promise us any more eats you’re going to die a horrible death.” “Was I to blame because it was made of wood?” he shouted at me. “I’ve tasted tougher ducks than that,” Warde said. “Let bygones be bygones,” Garry said. “Thank goodness we’ve got our fish back. It was a narrow escape.” “I’d like to know——” the kid began. “You don’t need to know, it’s all right,” I said. “You’re so smart——” he started again. “We’re so smart,” I told him, “that we——” “Will you let me speak?” he screamed.