"Let's get into our working clothes first," proposed Reade. "We
might want to wear these white clothes again before we get home."

So Tom and Dave held up a part of the canvas while Dick slipped
in under the folds of the tent to find the box in which they had
left their hike clothing.

"The box isn't here," Dick called. "Neither can I see any of
the bedding."

"Get hold here, fellows, and lift up more of the canvas," Reade
called.

"There isn't anything in the tent. All the stuff has been cleaned
out." Prescott announced in a voice of disgust.

"It was the tramps, then," Dave declared. "The rah-rah boys wouldn't
take the risk of stealing anything."

"Hold on! I've found a lantern," called Prescott. "I'll come
out with that."

He appeared a moment later, lighting the lantern.

"Now, let's see what we can find," he urged. Not far away the
high school boys came upon the prints of sharp-toed shoes.

"The tramps didn't wear shoes that would make these prints," declared
Dick. "Neither do any of our crowd. Fellows, we owe our surprise
to the rah-rah humorists."