Bert Wilson at the Wheel

oes and

the provisions and cooking utensils; others to take down the tents and gather together their blankets and other bedding; still others got together the fishing tackle and all was done to the accompaniment of songs and jests and laughter, so that b

ind room if there is any to be found-and started away after the wagon. They soon passed it and went on until they came to the turn in the road where the lake could be dimly seen throug

is and Dick Trent who had stayed behind

agon and hailed Tom with a "How

d out somebody else for this job-someone who didn't car

trials have to end some time," he added consolingly and started off again whil

way and the "Red Scout" started off with its second load. In a little while, for Bert had found a second and much shorter road to the lake, they came once more to "Campers' Crossing" as the boys had named it. There they found that the wag

ast load. When he got to the old camp the boys greeted him with the

t when I went to ask him a question just now he was gone. We

ruck him and his face lighted up as he exclaimed: "I

th underbrush. Pulling a bush aside, he disclosed to the boys' astoni

. "We don't want to keep Mr. Ho

overed the cave one day, while chasing a butterfly, he had secretly brought food there i

ret long ago but he was not given to tal

out came the culprit with an accusing piece of cornbread in his ha

and dismay on his face the boys

ou full-sized lemon! How did you

, lately," Dave said, holding his sid

ellow alone," said Jim, sulkily. "I only

d you if we hadn't been in a hurry. That reminds me that we've wasted a go

that he even told them how he had escaped being found out by a narrow margin

ry because they feared that Mr. Hollis would

the new camp the boys were surprised to see how much had been done in their absence. The tents had been s

, and the boys all gathered around

aid Shorty. "There's something about the pl

siastically. "It makes you imagine that Nature might have had a little ti

k praise. "Dave will be a poet if he doesn't look

ter be car

he lion i

is in hi

favor us with any more stories if yo

elieves him any, as long as he doesn't forget how to tell stori

sarcastically. "I thank you with

I call you all to witness that I disown it from thi

best kind of thing to have around at times," s

e nature of the surrounding country. Steve Thomas, Bert, Tom, Bob, Shorty, and J

clear notes of the birds until the little songsters paused to look wonderingly at these strange creatures that could not fly and yet sang like themselves. Timid little rabbits watched the boys with soft, brown eyes, not knowing whether or not to sally forth from their security even for the tempting carrot that Bert hel

he place from which the cries seemed to come. They fairly gasped when they came upon the cause of all the commotion. Three men, of the roughest order, were dancing dist

hest order were danci

rty shouted, "only I'm glad that those h

ing to the tramps, he yelled, "You'd better make a dive for the brook and get under water. It's right thro

to search for new victims upon whom they might vent their spite. When the tramps came up, dripping from the water, they were a sight

mps submitted with indifferent grace to the treatment, grumbling that th

he tramps declared that they would have to be moving on "because

venture struck Shorty and he began to laugh and the longer he laughed, the harder he laughed. The others caught the infection and in a second the w

horty between gasps. "I never shall

p suddenly, exclaiming, "

which they had entirely forgotten, sitting near

the dog came unhesitatingly and stuck

llow?" Bert asked, putting h

face saw something there that made him his slave forevermore. For the co

shame, too. Isn't he a beauty?" were some of the comments of the boys as they gathered around the dog, patting his head gently. The co

ith the rest around the camp fire and answered whenever they spoke to him with a wave of his silver brush. Bert made him a bed on the floor of his tent and Don gla

th eyes that held a world of gratitude and l