," said Mrs. Vernon, in order to make an end to the scene.

"Say, couldn't you tell us where there is a nice picnic place near
here?" called Jim, as the first car started.

"Yeh--a few miles furder on. You'll find a nice little brook in a grove
of sugar-maples, with green grass on all sides."

Jim thanked the woman, and started his car. Mrs. Vernon was informed of
the grove which was to be a stopping place for dinner, and all were
eagerly on the lookout for the spot that would offer such an ideal
resting place.

But it was the longest "few miles" any of the scouts had traveled, for
the meter showed many, many miles before any grove was seen. There was
no brook in it, but the grass was very green, and the maple grove, which
crowded a knoll a short distance from the road, looked cool and
inviting.

As usual, Julie was the first one out of the cars and over the fence.
She started to cross the very green grass, but instantly sank into the
water that was hidden under the green blades.

"Help! Oh, I'm drowning!" shouted she, struggling to pull her feet clear
of the bog. But she would free one foot, and instantly the other would
sink. Then she tried to drag that one out, but the first one would go
down again. Both together she could not get out.

"Oh, oh! See the mess poor Julie's in!" called one of the girls.

Mrs. Vernon was gazing quickly around for some sort of help to get the
scout out, but the girls stood about the place sympathizing with the
furious scout.

"Is it like that all over there, Julie?" called Betty, anxiously.

"How do I know? Come over and find out for yourself!" snapped her
sister.

The girls laughed at the retort, but Betty added: "I only wanted to know
if it was safe for me to come over and help you out."

Julie straightened up and glared at her soft-hearted sister. "You sound
just like our Sunday school teacher when she reads: 'Come over into
Macedonia and help.'"

Again the audience of girls laughed appreciatively, but Julie was too
busy keeping her feet "treading water" to pay any attention to their
enjoyment. Meantime, Jim had removed some rails from the fence and was
bringing them to the scout's aid.

"Now, Miss Julie, when I shove these over, you manage to work an arm
over each one, and sort of lift yourself out that way. I'll shove others
over for you to step on next, and in that way you can get out and across
to us," advised Jim, working as he spoke.

Finally Julie was rescued