ant. A swift examination proved that Werner and those
with him had had no opportunity to disturb the things to eat, nor had
they done any harm to the girls' wraps outside of mussing them up a
trifle.

"Say, we ought to give those fellows the licking of their lives,"
declared Fred emphatically. "The idea of wanting to play a joke like
that with the girls around!"

"No, we want no fighting to-day," declared Jack. "This affair can
wait." He turned to the unworthy ones. "You clear out of here, and be
mighty quick about it! We'll settle with you another time."

"Come on--I'm going back to camp!" cried Codfish timidly, and without
waiting for a reply he struck off through the woods.

"You needn't think you can boss everything, Jack Rover, even if you
are a captain," growled Werner. "On account of the girls, we won't say
anything more about it just now. Come on, Bill." And a few seconds
later he and his crony followed Codfish, and soon all were out of
sight.

For the time being the encounter with the Werner crowd put a damper on
the others. But they were young in hearts and spirits, and soon they
forgot what had taken place and went back to the front of the cliffs.
Here they presently opened up the knapsacks, and the boys allowed the
girls to fix the spread for them while they built a small fire in a
hollow between the rocks where they made a large pot of chocolate. It
is needless to say that all enjoyed the outing very much, and were
sorry when it was time to bring it to an end.

When the boys and their visitors had returned to Camp Barlight, and
the young cadets had seen the girls safely on their way in the two
automobiles, they set out on a hunt for Werner and his crowd. But
those unworthies kept well out of sight, only showing themselves at
roll call and when it was time to eat, and then disappearing as if by
magic.

"They are afraid to meet us," was Fred's comment.

"Well, I'm just as well satisfied," answered Jack. "If we got into a
fight it might mean all sorts of trouble for us if Captain Dale or the
professors heard of it."

The Rovers were up bright and early the following morning and on the
lookout once more for the girls. Soon they came in sight, and then the
Rovers, along with Gif and Spouter, got into the two automobiles, and
all headed straight for Camp Huxwell.

"My, what a big place!" exclaimed Jack, when, after being inspected,
they were permitted to pass through the main gateway.

"I understan