Tom and Sid had to stand considerable chaffing on the part of their two pretty companions, but they didn't mind so much, and Tom declared that his team was only practicing, and would eventually win the championship, and the gold loving cup. "Oh, by the way," remarked Phil, at parting, "Ruth, don't you and Miss Tyler want to come to our doings next week?" "What doings?" asked his sister. "See you defeated at baseball again, or go to a fraternity dance?" "Something on the order of the latter," replied her brother, making a wry face. "The sophs are going to have a little picnic on Crest Island, in Tonoka Lake, next Wednesday, and it will be one swell affair. Regular old-fashioned picnic--basket lunches, ants in the butter, snakes under the leaves, and all that. Holly Cross thought it up, and it's great!" "What a wonderful brain he must have," said Miss Tyler, with a delicious laugh. "But it sounds nice. What do you say, Ruth? Shall we go?" "I will, if you will. But--er--Mabel----" She looked questioningly toward her chum, who was strolling with Langridge. "Oh, bring her along," invited Phil. "This is an old-fashioned affair, and no special person will bring any one else. Tom and Sid and I will look after you girls." "But, Phil, you forget that Mr. Henderson and Mabel----" began Ruth. "Oh, hang it all, don't let that matter," spoke Phil. "I dare say Sid won't be around. As soon as he gets in the woods or fields he's always after bugs or animals--he's a naturalist, you know." "I should say so," agreed Tom. "Remember last fall how he went out after a picture of a fox, and got stuck in the bog, and how Zane caught him, all covered with mud, and thought poor Sid was a thief, and how we pretended we didn't know our own chum, when the proctor brought him to our room for identification? Remember that, Phil?" "I should say I did. Well, that's probably what Sid will do this time, so Miss Harrison needn't worry about having to accept him as an escort, though for the life of me I can't understand what's up between her and Sid?" and Phil looked questioningly at his sister. "We don't know, either," answered Ruth, "except that Mabel is very miserable over it." "She can't be taking it very hard, when I see her off with that chump, Langridge," retorted Phil. "Yes, I'm sorry she goes with him," retorted Madge Tyler. "But she won't listen to us. However, to change the subject--are we to go to the picnic, Ruth?" "Oh, I guess so. How will we get there, Phil?" "Tom and I will come for you, we'll go to the summer resort on the west shore of the lake, and row to the island. It will be sport. Now pray for good weather." "And you boys pray that there aren't any snakes," added Miss Tyler. "Nor ants in the butter," went on Ruth, as the boys bade the girls good-by. CHAPTER XIII A SPORTY COMPANION "Where's my blue tie?" cried Tom, tumbling about the things on his bureau. "Have you seen it, Phil?"