Bert Wilson at the Wheel

Copp

ily what funny spots they made on Tom's sleeping face. Then, with a start, he remembered that Tom had g

floor so that he could command a view of the brook through the open tent flap. He had just

are you doing awake at

, I suppose," cam

oing to rout me out at fiv

tch that fish and you know it, so the sooner we start t

cifully, too, about yesterday. It's a wonder they didn't, last night," which was all

y noticed that Shorty-Philip Strong had been nicknamed Shorty

y shouted, when they came

it's pulling like

Bob, who was sitting a little distance down the bank

up as if at a personal insult. This morning that very touchiness proved to be his undoing, for, as he got to his feet, intending to inform Bob that he c

their help, Shorty zig-zagged up to the tent, making, it must be confessed, a rather sorry figure. When

etting into trouble," one of the b

good earnest to their task and, before the camp was awake at h

ook their mornings catch to the mess tent and went to report-som

ir carelessness and cautioning them not again to forget that they had pledged th

g to be allowed to have another chance to find the camp site, permission was given an

olunteers, their ranks swelled by three new recruits, Shorty among them

ff through the trees the faint gleam of water. Running the auto into the

n that day. They had not gone very far before Bert, who was in the lead, called

a regular colony of chestnut trees, their huge branches

ese nuts that are sure to be so plentiful in the fall. Don't you su

e to fix it up," said Frank. "We c

clear, cold springs and never failed to test each one. More than once they had to cross brooks on sto

s of the sun. On the other side the ground was level for a short distance and then rose forming a small hill, richly carpeted with low shrubs and gorgeously colored wild flowers. Branches of trees drooped low over the lake, as if trying to catch their own reflections in its clear depths. Birds twittered and sang in the branc

ing a long breath. "I

st beautiful place I've ever had the luck to loc

they sat down under one of the trees near the lake and spread out the contents of the lunch basket. After a feast of chicken, canned salmon, cornbread, maple syrup, and sweetened lemon juice, which, whe

id Frank, "but I feel

e eaten so much,"

e, Philip Strong," Frank retorte

sniffing the air inquiringly, "do a

ndulged in this morning addled your brains? Whoever hear

's the truth just the same," and

er smell quite a while ago and it seems to

I do, too." "So do I." and various other exclamat

time. Tom was the first to discover the cause of it. At his low, imperative, "Come

r side. Just then the snake coiled ready to strike and the boys looked around desperately for stones but Bert had gotten ahead of them. As soon as he had seen what was happening he had slipped noiselessly away to a brook they had just passed

g caused by a copperhead," said Bert; "I used to kill th

d had settled back on her nest with her black eyes fixed gratefully on her rescuers and making little, low, gurgling noises way down in her throat. Near

ach other over fallen logs and through the dense foliage, peered into squirrels' holes and rabbits' burrows,

upon the "Red Scout" standing just a

was a beauty of its kind. It was about a yard long and the sixt

hear about the snake and camp site. The heroes of the day were deluged with questions. "How did you get it

supper first and save the tale of adventure until the camp council. At first they agreed rather hesitatingly b

ending with Taylor. As everybody was there, the reports were called for. Every boy reported his adventures and experiences during the day; all of whi

th eager interest, and they were not disappointed. Bert to

our way this year," mingled with "How did you manage to get the stone without the snake hearing you?" "W

ould quiet down and even then they f

good ghost sto

me on, Dave, put on

use he always had a stock on hand, and they were generally thrilling tale

ttle while. Then he said, "All rig

k the speed limit," they all gathered closer to