consent; even Curly Baxter admitted that his folks had been won over,
and that he "could go along, if so he he chose to shut his eyes to facts,
and just trust to luck," which, be it said, he finally did, just as Paul
had believed would be the case.

Meanwhile Paul and Jack were making their purchases of provisions, using
a list that had been found useful on their other camping trip; although
several little inaccuracies were corrected. For instance, they had taken
too much rice on that other occasion; and not enough ham, and salt pork,
and breakfast bacon.

Eggs they hoped to buy from some farmer over on the mainland; and
possibly milk as well. Jack even hinted that they might feel disposed, if
the money held out, to get a few chickens, and have one grand feed before
breaking camp.

"And this time we'll try and make sure that none of our grub is hooked,
like it was when we camped up on old Rattlesnake Mountain," Jack had
declared, with emphasis, for the memory of certain mysterious things
that had happened to them on that occasion often arose to disturb some
of the scouts.

"Oh! it ought to be easy to look out for that part of the job," Paul had
made answer; "because, you see, we'll have the two boats to store things
in, and they can be anchored out in the lake, if we want, each with a
guard aboard."

By noon the whole town knew all about the expected cruise. Boys who did
not have the good luck to belong to Stanhope Troop became greatly excited
over it; and by their actions and looks showed how envious they were of