Within thirty minutes Mr. Duncan appeared on the veranda and invited the boys to come in. The room had again been thrown open, and the sight they beheld caused them to gasp in astonishment. A long table was covered with a snowy cloth. This table was daintily set, and the display of food upon it made their mouths water. But by far the most agreeable spectacle was presented by six young girls in white, three on one side of the table and three on the other, who evidently were there to act as waitresses. Brad Buckhart stopped short and caught his breath. “Oh, say,” he muttered, “I can’t do it! I certain can’t plant myself there with them to wait on us. They are the real swell articles, and I sure feel more like making a choice and inviting one to dine with me some.” The astonishment the boys could not conceal caused the girls to smile a little. “Sit right down, boys,” laughed Henry Duncan. “This is not the Maple Heights Hotel, but I fancy you will find enough here to satisfy you.” “To satisfy us!” said Obediah Tubbs, in his piping voice, which he tried to repress. “Well, if anybody in this crowd isn’t satisfied with what there’s here, he ought to go drown himself, by Jim!” “Sus-sus-sus-sus-shut up!” whispered Jolliby. “Don’t make a fool of yourself!” “He couldn’t do that,” said Smart. “Nature got ahead of him on that job.” It was a jolly meal. The boys enjoyed themselves thoroughly, especially Tubbs, whose liking for pie was known by the pretty girl who waited on him. She had pie of all kinds for Obediah, and he sampled every variety placed before him. “I bet I’ll play the best game I ever played in my life this afternoon,” he chuckled. When the meal was finished Dick made a little speech of thanks, addressed to the girls, to Henry Duncan, and to the Maplewood Canoe Club.