It did not take long for her to make
friends with these nice young girls who were indeed about the age of her
own charges.

"How many are in your party, Miss Campbell?" asked Maggie, in the act of
breaking eggs into a bowl.

"There are eight of us, but I hope you aren't thinking----"

"Oh, but I am," insisted Maggie. "I am sure they will be very tired and
hungry, and, besides, we have plenty in the larder for everyone,--a
whole ham!" she added archly.

"Dear me, I wish Billie were here," said Miss Campbell. "I believe she
always keeps things stored away in the 'Comet' for an emergency."

"I'll beat up some Johnnie cakes," announced Amy. "We can cook those on
the wood fire later."

In the meantime, the waiters who had waited in vain and the wanderers
who had wandered fruitlessly, began to realize that the situation was
serious. Billie grew desperately impatient. At last she succeeded in
engaging a carry-all and two horses from a man at the moat house and
soon she and Nancy, seated face to face, were hurrying along the road.
Dr. Hume had met Percy. Ben had discovered Elinor and Mary standing
fearfully on the edge of the forest. By the time that Richard Hook had
got anywhere at all with his old nag, the lake-party, with the exception
of Miss Campbell, was re-united in Billie's carry-all and driving
comfortably in the direction of the "Comet."

They were very tired and hungry but a graven image would have melted to
laughter over this comedy of errors, and Richard Hook, hearing the gay
chorus of voices approaching, was quite sure it was another picnic
party. But he was not a young man to take chances, and having taken his
position across the middle of the road, he waved his arms and yelled,
"Stop!"

"Do you know anything about a little lady in gray and an abandoned
automobile?" he asked.

"Cousin Helen and the 'Comet,'" cried Billie, consumed with anxiety.
"Oh, Ben, how could you have left them?"

"But----" began Ben.

"I assure you the lady is in good hands," interrupted Richard. "My
sister is looking after her."

There were more explanations and presently they started on their way
again, and in a little while drew up beside the Gypsy van and the
abandoned motor car. And the upshot of the whole adventure was that the
two parties joined forces and provisions.

The boys built a fire against a great boulder on the river bank and
there was a wonderful supper. All the very best of everything was
brought out fo