nd of the season they will buy them back and pay prices according to
the condition the tents are in. Perhaps we can rent a number of tents,
as the summer is now half over.

"If enough boarders agree to this plan, and will insure the risk to Mrs.
Dickens by advancing the money necessary to pay for the tents, we scouts
will go after the tents for you and bring them back in our canoes.

"Mrs. Dickens says she can quickly have a pavilion built that will
answer for a dining-room, but any one who does not care for 'roughing'
it in tent-life must find other accommodations. All such can have meals
in the pavilion, but must take second table as boarders remaining in
camp will naturally have first claim on the hostess' service."

After a noisy debate, in which most of the ousted guests found these
plans and future delights pleasant to discuss, the majority voted to
remain and take up tent-life. Thus it happened that Mrs. Dickens was
helped out of the financial ruin that had stared her in the face a few
hours before, and the guests were treated to a rare experience,--living
in the open in the wonderful woods.

The scouts started every one cutting the young tips of the balsams for
their bedding, then paddled after Yhon in the canoes, up the Marion
River to Bear Creek, where the guide knew several of his friends to have
camps for the summer. They had tents to hire or for sale, and were only
too glad to furnish all that were needed for the houseless boarders at
Dickens' Landing.

The tent-outfits were carefully packed inside the canoes, and the scouts
joyfully paddled back, realizing that "What blesses one, blesses all" in
this working out of a good idea.

When the scouts landed with the tents and found that enough balsam had
been stripped for the beds, they began to weave the tips as all scouts
know how to do. Meantime, Mr. Gilroy, Yhon, and several of the men
raised the tents and secured them in such places as Mrs. Dickens
selected. The balsam beds were then made up in the tents, and before
evening, every one was provided with room and beds, thanks to the
scouts.

As the canoes left that shore, they were sped with many blessings, for
they had done a great thing for those standing on the rocks, watching
them depart.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

SHOOTING THE RAPIDS--AND OTHER THINGS

"Well, 'where do we go from here, boys?'" called Mr. Gilroy, laughingly,
as he looked back over his shoulder at the scouts.

"Anywhere but h