hat day.

"I don't believe the Meadow-Brook Girls are in these parts at all,"
declared Larry Goheen.

"It's a lark coming over here for a night's camping out, anyway,"
answered Billy Gordon, "It is like being real Indians."

"We aren't Indians," answered George, "It is those girls who are the
Indians. I'd just like to see any other girls in the state of New
Hampshire make the hike they did that last day we were on the trail.
They may be twenty miles from here by this time. If we don't find them
to-morrow I, for one, shall be in favor of making a trip around the lake
in the launch. We can pretend that we had to go on an errand, or for
some fishing bait or something of the sort. We mustn't let them know we
have been looking for them."

It was after midnight when the boys turned in. They, too, went sound
asleep directly they rolled up in their blankets in their little tent.
Two hours later while the Tramp Club were oblivious to sound and time,
the alarm clock on the "Red Rover" went off with a thrilling whirr. The
girls sprang from their cots, Margery and Tommy protesting over being
awakened at that unseemly hour, as they characterized it. Harriet
lighted the oil stove and put the kettle on. The others went out to the
deck to wash their faces. Harriet, having finished her labors for the
time being, followed them.

The air was chill at that hour. The girls were shivering, Tommy's teeth,
chattered. She stammered as well as lisped when she essayed to speak
now.

"One more night like this, and Tommy won't be able to talk at all,"
chuckled Jane.

"My kingdom for another such a night, then!" returned Margery fervently.

"Buthter ith too fat to feel the cold," observed Tommy Thompson. She
loved to tease Margery, and to mention her weight always annoyed Buster.
Margery was unable to think of anything sufficiently irritating to fit
that particular case, so she tossed her head and remained silent, while
Tommy's twinkling eyes were fixed upon her.

By the time they had washed and dressed the tea kettle was singing
merrily. It was a welcome sound and made the girls feel almost warm.
Miss Elting, being first dressed, made the coffee. Harriet set out some
biscuits, together with the milk and sugar.

"Now, I think we are ready," she announced.

After drinking the hot coffee the girls felt themselves equal to almost
any task. The fire was put out and the light in the cabin extinguished,
then Harriet and Jane stepped noiseles