“Why, they’ve gone and painted ‘Camp Wickasaw’ on the rocks over at the cliff back of Crescent! And Fraser says the letters are done in red paint and are three feet high, and you can see them for miles!” “Phew!” said Dan. “Aren’t they the cheeky beggars?” “When did they do it, Kid?” asked Bob. “Day before yesterday. They went on a picnic, or something, over that way.” “Well, we’ll just have to go over and paint it out,” said Carter decidedly, amid a murmur of concurrence. “You couldn’t do it, my boy,” Dan objected. “It would take more paint than you could lug over there.” “Don’t you care; they can’t go and paint up the scenery like that,” answered Joe. “Anyhow, we can daub the letters up so they can’t be read.” “How did they do it, Kid--do you know?” Dan asked. “Why, they climbed up as far as they could, you see, and just did it.” “All right; then we’ll just have to climb up farther and paint ‘Camp Chicora’ above it!” This elicited hearty applause, and Rooke’s small voice was quite lost for a moment. Then he made himself heard: “You can’t climb any higher!” he shouted triumphantly. “Fraser says you can’t!” “Fraser’s a liar, then!” answered Bob calmly. “You ought to select your associates more carefully, Kid.” “But the Wickasaws climbed up the cliff until the smooth rock began,” said Rooke indignantly; “and you can’t climb any higher than that. Any one will tell you so, Bob Hethington.” “Well, don’t get excited, Kid; we won’t ask you to do it,” said Bob soothingly. “I tell you what, fellows, Dan and I’ll go over there now and have a look at it, and see what can be done. We can get permission, I guess.” “What’s the matter with the bunch going?” asked a chap named Ridley. “Clint won’t let a lot go, you idiot! We’ll say we want to go over to Crescent, and then Clint and the councilors won’t need to know anything about it. If they did, they might-- Who was that went away?” The crowd turned to look. Mr. Verder was walking off toward Maple Hall. “Gee! I bet he heard!” said Carter. “He did,” piped Rooke. “I saw him standing over there!” “That’s all right,” Bob said. “He won’t say anything about it if we keep it quiet. Dan and I’ll go over there right off, and we’ll let you fellows know what can be done. There’s one thing certain: Wickasaw hasn’t any mortgage on that bluff over there.” “You bet she hasn’t!” Dan concurred earnestly. “And just think how it must look from up the lake!” “And from Camp Trescott!” exclaimed Carter. “Why, thunder! Trescott’s right under that bluff!” “Gee!” groaned Carter. “Aren’t they having a fine laugh on us!” “The laugh will be on some one else when we’re through,” said Dan determinedly. “Come on, Bob!” The group broke up, and Dan and Bob sought and received permission to go to the village. Naturally, Tom and Nelson wanted to accompany them, but consented to remain behind when Bob explained that they must be careful not to awaken suspicion.