had been raked away to a safe distance from the fire so that the forest
might not be fired by the blaze. It was her first lesson in woodcraft on
this eventful journey into the big forest.

They followed a dark path that wound in and out, a gloomy aisle in the
great forest with the tops of the trees over their heads, so high as
almost to be lost to view even in daylight, Margery puffing, Tommy
uttering little moans now and then so that her companions might know of
her misery. That last stretch along the narrow path seemed an endless
journey. Then too, it will be recalled that the Meadow-Brook Girls had had
nothing to eat since morning except the cold luncheon served by Miss
Elting.

"There is the camp, girls," cried the latter some thirty minutes later as
a second glow off to the left attracted her attention. "I am right, am I
not, Jasper?"

Jasper grunted an affirmative, then led the way to Mrs. Livingston's tent,
at Miss Elting's direction. It was the only tent with a light to be seen.
The other tents were lost in the shadows of the forest, and the girls who
were occupying them were lost in dreamland.

"Keep very quiet so you will not awaken any one," cautioned the guardian
as they approached the Chief Guardian's tent, rapping gently on the tent
pole. The flap was drawn quickly back. Mrs. Livingston welcomed the
wanderers warmly.

The camp life of the Meadow-Brook Girls had really begun. Its activities
and excitement were to begin within a few hours from the time of their
arrival.