nd then holler for the police."

Quite a bit of searching the six members of Dick & Co. did that morning,
though all without the least success. It presently dawned on these
Grammar School boys that Mr. Fits must have left Gridley far behind.

"We'll keep our mind on the camping, anyway," proposed Dick. "We want to
start to-morrow morning. We ought to meet at eight o'clock, and then get
away together as soon after as we can."

"And hoof it twelve miles?" asked Hazelton.

"No; as we'll have so much stuff to carry, we'll have to pay someone to
drive the stuff out there for us. If we have a wagon we may as well ride
on it."

"I hope you fellows will all have a good time," suggested Dan Dalzell
generously, though his own face still wore a doleful look. For his
father and mother had held out against his going. All of the other boys
had secured permission.

"It's a shame you can't go, Dan," blazed Dave.

"That's what I think," muttered Dan. "Huh! I've a good mind to run away
from home."

"You'd get spanked when you went back," laughed Tom Reade.

"Huh! I ought to run away and never come back," growled Dan.

"Oh, cut that out--do!" urged Dick. "Be a fellow of good sense, Danny.
Your father and mother have their own reasons for not wanting you to
go."

"Their reasons don't do me any good," uttered Dan resentfully.

"Would it do any good if we all went down to your house and tried
coaxing for you?" asked Greg Holmes.

"Not a bit," declared Danny gloomily.

"Say, will you fellows wait here a little while?" begged Dick. "I want
to run home a minute. I'll be right back."

"Go ahead," nodded Dave.

Dick started on a trot, for he had a new thought as to a possible way of
securing Dan's happiness.

As young Prescott turned a corner and raced homeward, he was espied by a
boy on the other side of the street.

"Hey, Dick!" challenged Hen Dutcher gleefully. "What time is it?"

Dick flushed, but wisely made no answer.

"Humph!" muttered Hen to himself. "Just as well his watch did get the
run-off. Now Dick Prescott won't be hauling his old timepiece out every
two minutes in school to see what time it is."

Dick reached home somewhat out of breath.

"Who's been chasing you?" demanded Mr. Prescott, snatching up a cane
that stood in the corner of the parlor. He assumed a ferocious
expression, which, with one of as peaceable a disposition as Dick's
father possessed, looked more than out of place.

"I haven't got tim