Never mind how much our backs ache or our hands smart.

Do you agree ?" "I'll fight any fellow in the crowd who doesn't agree," announced Tom Reade.
"You can't get up a fight with me on that score," retorted Greg.
The others also quickly assented to Dave's plan.
By and by the youngsters halted for half an hour to eat the luncheons they had brought with them.

Then they went at their work again.
At half-past three o'clock in the afternoon they tied up in bundles as much of the bark as each boy could carry, then started homeward.
"We ought to get home in time for supper," Dick declared hopefully.
It was about eight o'clock in the evening when they reached Greg's gate.

The return was harder than they had expected.

The road seemed to be twice as rough as it had been in the morning; they were utterly fagged, and discovered that even a load of birch bark can weigh a good deal under certain circumstances.
"Pile it up in the back of the yard," Greg suggested, "and we'll take it around to Mr.Driggs in the morning." "Then we can hardly get back to Katson's Hill to-morrow, if we wait until the boatyard opens at eight o'clock," said Dave.