CHAPTER VI.
A CAMP DINNER.
Senator Hamblin, leaving the stage-coach at Lake George, embarked on thelittle steamer Ganouski. He was accompanied by two gentlemen on theirway to join a camping party of male friends, who had pitched their tentson an island about two miles south of Lakeside. The Senator was in goodspirits, enjoying the society of his companions. The younger of the two,a fine-looking man about thirty years of age, resided in the same countywith Hamblin, having represented his district two terms in the Statelegislature. His personal appearance was commanding, and for a youngman he had taken a high standing in the political arena of the day. Hepossessed a keen black eye, sharp and piercing, around the corners ofwhich could be detected an expression of recklessness and trickery, sonecessary for a man of his calling.
Hon. Walter Mannis had been very successful in his political career, andolder men pointed to him as a brilliant ornament--in fact, a rising starin the political theatre of the State; and so Senator Hamblin patronizedand courted the young member.
Mannis had inherited a large fortune, which, added to his fine personalappearance and many accomplishments, made him a lion in both public andprivate circles. He was called the handsome member of the legislature,and many a mamma tried to win his smiles for a pretty daughter. Yet Mr.Mannis had never yielded to the charms of female loveliness and virtue.He remained a target, his heart seemingly impregnable to love's arrows.
His companion, a member of the legislature also, representing anassembly district in the great metropolis, was about the age of Mannis,although not as fine-looking or intellectually as bright.
"Senator," said Mannis, as the three sat on the deck of the littlesteamer, "you must stop at the island and dine with me. Our friendsexpect us, and a royal camp dinner will be awaiting our arrival. Weshall leave the steamer at the dock nearest camp, where a boat will bewaiting to convey us to the island. After dinner we will row you to yourfamily at Lakeside, about two miles distant. What say you?"
"I will stop on one condition, Mannis, and that your promise to spendto-morrow with me. I would like to have some conversation with youconcerning political matters in our county. Have I your promise?"
"I shall be most happy to accept, Senator."
A half hour later the little steamer drew up at the dock, when the threedisembarked. They were soon seated in a small boat, and after a pull ofa few moments the party stepped on the rock answering as a dock for thelittle island. Introductions being over, Senator Hamblin was led to thetable, where a tempting repast was spread.
Reader, have you ever participated in a camp dinner?
No?
Then you have missed one of the rarest treats of life.
The dining-room is a tent opened at one end, through the centreextending a stationary table made of planed boards. On each side is abench nailed to the table, capable of seating about six persons. To seatone's self, sit on the bench with back to the table; gracefully raisingthe lower limbs, right about face, your seat acting as a pivot for thebody, swing over quickly, drop the feet beneath the table, and you areready for preliminaries. Before you is new bread, white and tempting;butter of a rich golden hue; tomatoes, crimson and juicy with richness;cucumbers, pickles, sauces, and other relishes. The waiters are clothedin habiliments of blue surmounted by elegant crowns of native straw.
The cool breezes blowing from the lake, golden yellow-jackets in swarmshover about your head, occasionally swooping down into the sugar-bowl tosee if the sweetness is first-class.
Presently bowls of delicious turtle soup are placed before you, and thearoma that rises is more than appetizing to a hungry man. As you conveyluscious spoonfuls to your mouth, another aroma greets your olfactories:it is the fumes of coffee.
S--p--p--p--p!
A pair of red squirrels go scampering up a tree near by, intent ongetting over the dining-room to enjoy the rich odors wasting themselveson the desert air.
Soup is followed by fish--none of your canned salmon or salt cod--noneof your stale shad, a week out of water--but fish almost wriggling theirtails as you spear them with a fork. They are smoking hot, with a richhue of brown--the edge of the dish being ornamented with small clippingsof fried pork.
Take the fish on your fork, insert a knife-blade in the back, when thewhite meat falls on your plate anxious to be eaten. Drop the knife andwith your fingers catch hold of the skeleton at the head, pull gently,and it will divide itself from the other half. Your plate loaded withmealy potatoes, squash, boiled onions, and corn, you have before you adinner fit for an epicure. How good everything tastes! All formalityhaving been left at home, the camp dinner is the Eden of banquets.
Counting your skeletons, you will be surprised at the number of fish youhave eaten. With your voracious appetite you will not fail to leave aplace for a dessert of fruit which follows. Pies and puddings are notusually a part of camp dinners, fruit taking their place.
Senator Hamblin enjoyed the repast as thoroughly as his entertainercould have wished. Indeed, the entire party, though composed ofpoliticians, did not easily get back to politics; for a half hourafter dinner they sat on the rocks smoking cigars and discussing thesurroundings. They could scarcely have helped it, for the scene wascharming; the golden rays of the sun fringing the western hills gave thefoliage a rare quality of splendor. The lake was like a sheet of silver,the surface reflecting the lovely azure of an unclouded sky. The airwas pure and sweet, the breezes soft, and all the surroundings werespecially successful bits of nature's handiwork.
Senator Hamblin was enchanted as he gazed upon the beauties of naturespread before him; for the moment he even forgot the trials andvexations of politics. Worldly feelings that agitated him from day today were gone, and he felt that he stood in an earthly paradise such asno other locality could present.
"Mannis, this is grand! In all my travels I never beheld anything soenchanting. I do not wonder this is such a resort. In all accounts ofthis beautiful lake justice has never been done it. But while I am lostin delight and bewilderment, I am forgetting my family await me atLakeside. Come, let us proceed to my quarters; it is growing late, andbefore we leave this place it will be dark."
The party arose, preparing to depart, and by the time adieus were saidthe shades of evening had fallen. The moon burst forth over the hilltopsas Senator Hamblin, Assemblyman Mannis, with two others, jumped intothe boat. The little craft soon touched the beach, and Senator Hamblinstepped ashore.
"Remember, Mannis, you are to spend to-morrow with me. Good-night,gentlemen;" and in a moment the oars struck the water again and thelittle boat was far away on its return trip. Watching the craft a momenthe turned toward the house and said:
"Mannis is one of nature's noblemen. What a magnificent couple he andmy proud Belle would make! Egad! if I could bring it about Belle wouldhave a husband every way worthy of her. We will see."
After returning the warm welcome of those on the piazza he went directlyto his room, fate decreeing his arrival at the moment George Alden sowarmly greeted Belle. The young man, taken by surprise, was pushedviolently across the hallway, while Belle confronted her stern father,who said:
"Belle, I am astonished!" and he led her gently into the room, quicklyclosing the door, and Alden was left alone.
The latter, regaining his composure, waited but a moment, then turnedand left the house, in a short time arriving at his island camp. For anhour he remained alone on the rock with his own thoughts for company. Hethought of the few days passed at the lake; the rescue of little Willie;the happy moments in the society of his heart's idol; the long days whenher illness prevented him seeing her; and the many happy moments sinceshe rejoined her friends. He thought of the day just ended; the storm;the brave girl in the boat; the loved ones on the rock, and the poorgirl lying before him so helpless and white. His mind went back to thehappy moment when he held her hand and told his love.
George Alden was a brave man, never quailing at danger, but when hethought of his humiliation he moaned in a
gony of spirit.
"I am only a bank clerk," he said, "but is that reason why this man'sdaughter should be injured by my society? I love her, and I'll have her,too, in spite of her father."
The Cleverdale Mystery; or, The Machine and Its Wheels: A Story of American Life Page 8