eleven o'clock
The squirrels were already gathering stray acorns that Mother Nature had dropped for them . The little canyon lay in perfect quiet , except for the chattering of the line of boys stretched out along its leafy woodland trail . The whole physical body seemed to respond in a mysterious way to its every call , for `` In the city we live , but in the mountains we live more abundantly . '' By eleven o'clock the party sat around a half-dozen blazing campfires , munching at a midnight lunch and speculating on various phases of the work . Ham was keeping the fellows around one fire laughing over his remarks ; Fat was giving expression to his views on camp grub and food in general . Mr. Dean entertained another group by his stories of army life , while Mr. Allen and a number of the boys ' Cabinet were laying out a plan of work for the morrow . Shorty Wier advised work on the fireplace first , because , as he pointed out , `` the fireplace would be the cabin 's heart . ''