gone again, and at others that they had not yet arrived. But
the moment the girls saw him and heard his complaint, they laughed at
his concern.

"Nice way to treat your adopted father--laugh at him, because he worried
over his girls!" said he in pretended grievance.

"But what could possibly happen when we had Jim and Verny at the
wheels?" asked Ruth.

"That's just it! With the Captain leading, I was sure you would be
jailed for speeding, and would need me to bail you out," teased he.

"We needed baling out when we got in the river-flood, but not in jail!"
laughed Julie.

"If we had dreamed you had a 'phone way up here, we would have called
you to help us, that time," added Joan.

Then the story of the mud and flood had to be told, while Mr. Gilroy sat
on the side-door of the car and directed the Captain which road to take
to reach his bungalow.

"Did our outfits get here all right, Mr. Gilroy?" asked Ruth.

"Yes, and they have been down at your camp several days now," replied
their host.

"How far is our camp from your bungalow, Mr. Gilroy?" asked Betty.

"Not very far--just a nice walk. Your camp is right on the shore of one
lake, while my bungalow is on the shore of First Lake, one of the Fulton
Chain, you know."

The scouts then learned that Mr. Gilroy's estate extended from First
Lake, where his bungalow was built, across country to Little Moose Lake
where their camp was to be. This was a distance of about three-quarters
of a mile between the two places.

"We'll stop at the bungalow first and give you a good square meal after
all your experiences; then we'll go on over to camp. When your baggage
is all out of the cars, Jim and I will drive back to my garage where the
machines can stand."

"Oh, Jim is going back home with Dad's car, to-morrow," said Ruth.

"And Verny is going to keep hers here for the summer," added Julie.

The cold luncheon had been waiting a long time, and when the scouts
finally arrived they did justice to the viands. Then, every one being
eager to see the new camp-site, they started for the Lake. Here
everything was in order to receive the tenants. Three fine tents, fully
equipped with every possible comfort for the campers, were waiting for
the girls, and a smaller tent for the Captain.

"Oh, how wonderful! Why, this won't be like roughing it," declared
several of the girls as they inspected their camp.

"Everything is ready but the fancy touches. You girls will have to add