"We'll all of us find it the best meal ever, just because we've
tramped far enough and worked hard enough to make any kind of
decent food taste great," Dick smiled.

The supper over, and one of the campfires replenished, all six
of the youngsters took the dishes down to the lake, carrying along
two kettles of hot water, where a general dish-washing ensued.
With so many to do the work, the camp was spick and span within
twenty minutes.

"Now, I'm going to enjoy one thing that I haven't had all day,
and that's some real rest," Prescott declared, throwing himself
down upon the grass. "I don't believe I shall move until bedtime."

But he did. Already trouble was hovering over the camp. From
out of the darkness beyond three pairs of eyes studied the campers
in silence. One pair belonged to Bert Dodge, another the young
Bayliss, and the third to a man of about middle age.

Dodge and Bayliss were thoroughly angry.




CHAPTER V

BERT DODGE HEARS THE BATTLE CRY


Ten minutes after Dick had thrown himself on the grass a rustling