uld act as silly as Barbara
did on this occasion.

He felt embarrassed at having to look at her from time to time, as she
was powdered and rouged as she would have been for a ballroom in the
city, and poor Tom thought that, perhaps, she had some loathsome
irruption on her face that necessitated this covering of the natural
skin. Consequently he managed to keep his eyes turned away that the girl
might not feel too unhappy over her trouble.

But Barbara thought her cavalier was so effected that he could not look
at her without feeling her powers of beauty and attraction; so she posed
and minced her way as she fondly believed into Tom's plastic heart. Had
she but known the truth!

A merry family group sat down, at noon, to the delicious dinner served
under the giant oak-tree. And Mr. Brewster, as affable as if he had not
been tried by a family-court the night previous, asked the younger boys
how their survey-work was progressing.

"Oh fine! We have lots of fun in camp, and when we go out on a section
the work is so interesting!" exclaimed Kenneth.

"With such a large crowd of men, I suppose you two boys are considered
more as kids who are to be teased and imposed upon, eh?" asked Tom
Latimer, having read his brother's letters about the crew.

"That's the best part of the crowd--they seem to forget that we both are
tenderfeet and years younger than they are. Ken and I are treated
exactly like any of the older men in the crew," replied Jim.

"Yes, we are paired off with certain groups to rain-proof the canvas
tents, to act as commissary agents, and to share in all the chores the
others do. Just because Jim has a rich father and because I have to work
for a living, makes no difference to them. Caste and wealth counts as
nothing out in these wilds. It is what a fellow stands for and can prove
that is his introduction and guarantee of manliness," added Kenneth.

"Did your crew move to a new line, as you thought they would?" asked
Eleanor.

"Yes, we are now at Silver Creek, but we only have another week's work
to do there. Then we move on to the next section which will be near
Buffalo Park. Isn't that the place where you said Old Montresor had a
cabin?" said Jim.

"Yes, and it is a lovely spot. I've been there, and I promised Nolla I'd
ride there with her some day," returned Polly.

"Oh, I say, girls! Wouldn't it be great to have you-all ride up while we
camped there? You could make up a party of it, couldn't you?"