human
What, this storm, George? he said, cheerily;
gpt
I should say this was one of the longest, then,
human
But after it does stop we can make up our plans, and start to carry the same out, Elmer continued, knowing that if he kept the minds of his companions employed in some fashion they would not find much time to worry.
gpt
I'm going to settle down pretty soon by the fire here, and figure things out again. This time we want to make a sure job of it. I know the wiggly route we've taken to get here, following that little creek, and I've settled it in my mind just which way we ought to go to remedy our blunder.
human
It wasn't so much a mistake as false tips we received, you remember, Elmer,
gpt
Yes, that skunk told us wrong just to have what he thought would be a silly joke on scouts, Toby added.
human
Guess he thought we considered ourselves some punkins because we wore khaki suits, and he was mean enough to want to take us down a peg. I'd like to see that same chap again. What I wouldn't do to him wouldn't be worth telling.
gpt
At any rate he's forced us to have a novel experience, Elmer told them.
human
Only for his sending us on a false scent we wouldn't have had the chance to know what scouts can do when storm-bound in a snow forest. Some time, when it's all away back in the past, and you can sit and think of it without getting furious, perhaps none of us may feel quite so hard about that young scamp's work.
gpt
Huh! about that time begin to feel of your shoulders, grunted George,
human
Nothing seems to agree well with you this morning, George, remarked Lil Artha;
gpt
I hope it don't turn out to be catching.
human
What do you mean by saying that, Lil Artha?
gpt
Why, you know we were talking about shipwrecked sailors a while back, and how they often had to go on half rations because they carried so little in the boat with them?
human
Yes, go on,
gpt
Once in a while it gets even worse than that, Lil Artha continued, gravely,
human
Aw! come off, and quit that! cried George;
gpt
Well, of course I'm hoping myself that things'll never get _just_ that bad, the tall scout went on to say,
human
But what about yourself? demanded the other;
gpt
That makes me smile, he was informed, coolly;
human
Let's change the subject, Toby broke in with;
gpt
Sure it has,
human
If we stay right where we are nothing will come to us, will there, Elmer?
gpt
If you mean anything in the way of game we could hardly expect it, replied the scout master.
human
The fellow who generally gets there is the one who goes out and finds what he wants, and doesn't hang around home waiting for something to turn up. That's what wideawake scouts believe in.
gpt
Hurrah! that's the ticket! And when can we make a start?
human
If there's any sign of the storm letting up by noon, we'll clear out and take our chances of finding Uncle Caleb's shack before night-time,
gpt
And as the snow's so deep, Toby rattled on,
human
Nothing that I know of, Elmer remarked;
gpt
I won't, eh? What's the reason?
human
You're a new beginner, in the first place, and a knowledge of how to walk on snow-shoes is something that's got to be gained by experience. I've been on them up in Canada; and they had to dig me out lots of times before I learned how to stand straight. If once you slip it's good-bye to you. Down your head goes, and you can't get up alone because of the clumsy big shoes. They always carry a long stick to keep from taking these headers, especially when going it alone.
gpt
Anything else?