e came for the milk.

"Queer about 'Paw,' ain't it?" mimicked Emma as they were on their way
home. "I wonder if he is staying in the cornfield watching our camp.
Perhaps he'll come out when he hears there is bear steak at home. My,
but aren't those children dirty?"

Grace frowned when Nora told her of Emma's offer to give the Thompsons
some of the bear meat.

"Emma, no good ever comes from babbling. I am sorry you did that, but so
long as you promised you must make good," directed Grace.

"All right. Don't be so frightfully touchy. I will send Wash over with a
hind leg."

"No. You will send or take a steak, as you promised. A bear's leg! The
idea!"

"I don't know what you mean. A leg of lamb is considered a real delicacy
where I come from, and I should think a leg of bear would be an equally
delightful delicacy up here where the beast grows."

Even Miss Briggs joined in the laugh that followed, though it hurt
frightfully to exercise her facial muscles.

Hippy said he would cut out a steak, but Nora decided that he must have
assistance or he would be sending something that not even the
mountaineers could eat. A black chunk of meat that weighed all of twelve
pounds was the result of the carving. This Hippy tied up in a roll and
gave to Washington to take to the Thompsons.

"Our peace offering to 'Paw,'" observed Hippy as the colored boy, with
the bear meat on his shoulder, trudged away playing his harmonica. "That
dance that Julie invited us to attend, comes off to-morrow night. She
asked me to-day, if we were going. I said I reckoned we'd be over, and
asked her if she would trip the light fantastic with me, but Julie shook
her head. What about it? Do we go or stay?"

"What will we do about the camp?" wondered Grace.

"Leave it here, of course," urged Emma.

"And find it missing when we return," suggested Elfreda. "I fear that
won't do at all."

"We can hide our equipment and ride the ponies over to Coon Hollow, with
Laundry along on one of the mules to look after our horses when we get
there," planned Lieutenant Wingate.

"What about the other mule?" questioned Anne.

"Let him take care of himself. If any stranger attempts to fool around
that mule he will get the everlasting daylights kicked out of him.
Nora, you had better shake your feet up to-day and get in practice, for
to-morrow night you dance--if--"

"Yes, if," laughed Grace. "It shall be just as you people wish.
Personally I am not keen for i