out the table. We always sweep
away the crumbs or trash that fall during mealtime, so the ants and
other insects won't annoy us. This morning, however, we were in such a
hurry to get out with Gilly, that we forgot the usual routine work in
camp," explained Judith.

The two boys exchanged glances, but Judith saw them. Alec then said,
smilingly, "Oh, yes! How did that track-hunt come off? I suppose you
scouts knew every animal, eh?"

Judith now realized that Mr. Gilroy had had the whole joke planned out
with the Grey Fox boys, and that the boys were only waiting to have a
good old laugh on the girls. So she deliberately told a lie,--fervently
praying that it be forgiven for the "Cause of Women."

She glanced roguishly up at Alec, and winked one eye. "Wasn't it too
funny for anything,--the way we led Gilly about by the nose?"

The boys stared in surprise for a moment, then Dick said, "What do you
mean? Didn't you scouts go out at dawn with Gilly to study tracks?"

"Sure! But didn't you boys know about the joke we made up on him about
those tracks? That's why he is so late to dinner."

"Tell us about it?" eagerly begged both boys.

"Oh! I can't. I thought you knew something about it or you wouldn't have
grinned the way you did. I'm so sorry I let the cat out of the bag, for
likely, our Leader wants to tell you the story while we all are at
dinner," cried Judith, the picture of regret.

"Oh, come on and tell! Now that you've said so much!" coaxed Dick.

"Well, you boys walk around and look over our work and I'll run and ask
Julie if I may tell you the story," whispered Judith, giggling, and
running over to the Leader's side.

When Julie heard the truth from Judith, she was furious, but she soon
saw that she must thrust anger behind her, and plan some clever way to
reverse the joke and make it fall upon the originator. In fact, at that
moment, the scouts wished all kinds of dreadful things upon their
benefactor, Mr. Gilroy.

He, however, unaware of their ire, was walking up the trail from the
lake to the camp-site. And the boys, who were told to amuse themselves
for a time, were certainly finding more good ideas put into useful form
at that camp than they ever dreamed of.

The large square table was constructed of the boards removed from a
piano-case which Gilly had at the barn. These were all nailed to a frame
and furnished a strong, heavy top that could be placed, at will, on the
four sturdy posts that were dr