he world, and in his next conscious moment he was opening his eyes
to the dawn of another day.

CHAPTER XXI

LOST MINE HILL

The camp was very still. Each tree and bush stood motionless and distinct
in the queer gray light of early morning. Their tent was the last in
the row, and lying on his side, Dale could look under the rolled-up flap
straight across the sloping, sandy beach, over the smooth, rhythmic
lapping water of the bay to the low, sparsely wooded line beyond which
lay the sea. There was a crisp tang to the air that made him snuggle
into his blankets as he drowsily watched the eastern sky turn pink and
gold and delicately crimson in the glory of the rising sun.

The boy gave a sigh of content, and his lids drooped sleepily. The next
thing he knew reveille was sounding, and he rolled over to meet the
glance of Ranny Phelps, sitting tousle-headed on the edge of the opposite
bunk.

"Gee! Isn't this great!" exclaimed Tompkins, impulsively.

Ranny nodded. "It sure is!" he agreed, in a half-friendly,
half-embarrassed fashion. And then, almost as if regretting his tone,
he sprang up and reached for his swimming-tights. "Everybody out for
the morning dip, fellows," he called authoritatively.

They needed no urging. Vedder was the only one who clung to his blankets,
and the others lost no time in dragging these off and applying the sole
of a sneaker with a dexterity that brought a howl of protest from the
plump youth.

"Ouch! Quit that!" he roared, rolling over the side of the bunk and
thudding to the floor. "Wait till I get hold of you, Court Parker, and
I'll--"

The threat ended in a sputter as the rest fled, giggling, to gather
before headquarters for the brief ceremony of flag-raising. Then
followed five minutes of setting-up exercises that sent the blood
tingling through their veins and made them more than ever eager for the
refreshing plunge, after which came dressing, the airing of blankets,
and breakfast--and the day's work and pleasure had fairly begun.

It was mostly work that first morning. Dale's tent had pioneering
duties, and for two hours or more he sweated with ax and grub-hoe,
clearing out more undergrowth and making the camp shipshape. Ranny was
no easy taskmaster. He kept everybody hustling without any let-up,
and half an hour before inspection he had the whole seven hard at
work on the tent, sweeping, folding blankets, and tidying up generally.
There were a few grumbling asides,