There were just eight people gathered together that evening to have a
good time. Besides Nellie Langdon, of course, Will's twin sister,
Violet, graced the occasion with her presence; then there came Mame
Crosby, the vivacious girl with the auburn locks, who was so fond of
teasing Jerry; and last, but not least, pretty Susie Prescott, a dainty,
prim little blonde, whom Will considered a bundle of sweetness.

What a splendid time this congenial little company had! For many a day
the memory of it would follow the four chums while far away.

All of the "material of war," as Mame called it, had been brought to
Frank's house, so that it might be packed in one big trunk. Thus the
boys would be bothered with only a suitcase and a gun apiece in the long
journey across the continent.

The girls insisted upon being shown the wonderful aggregation of
clothing and weapons. It was to them very much like a shopping
expedition, and many were the exclamations of awe and curiosity as they
looked upon the exhibition.

Bluff, of course, was very proud of that wonderful hunting-knife of his.
He even smiled to see the perceptible shudder with which Nellie surveyed
him as he cut imaginary circles in the air with the keen-edged weapon.

"Oh! I hope you won't have to use it very often, Bluff! It makes me
shiver just to think of you meeting one of those fierce grizzly bears,
such as I have seen in the menagerie," she said confidentially to him.

"But you wouldn't have me leave this jewel at home, would you, Nellie?"
he asked in dismay.