“No, don’t,” begged Blake. “We came off in such a hurry that we didn’t bring a lantern, and the path isn’t any too plain. They won’t hurt you.” “I know—but—skunks——” hesitated Mrs. Bonnell. “They’re as harmless as cats. Come on!” and resolutely Blake pressed forward. The two green spots had disappeared, and by the time the excitement had calmed down Jack’s question had been forgotten, to the relief of the girls, who did not want to answer unless they had to. “Next time don’t try to find Bear Pond unless one of _us_ goes along,” suggested Jack in patronizing tones. “Oh, but we did find it,” declared Mabel. “It was after we found it, and on our way home, that we got lost. The hairpin blazing didn’t work.” “The what?” cried Blake in curiosity. “Mabel, if you mention that I’ll never forgive you!” threatened Mrs. Bonnell. “Go on; tell!” urged Phil. “Hairpin blazing? What is that; a new kind of Camp Fire Girls’ stunt?” “Don’t you tell!” warned the Guardian, and with laughter the girls refused. “Oh, we’ll find out!” the boys threatened. “We’ll go over the same trail to-morrow,” added Jack. “Then it will be time enough to tell you,” remarked Mrs. Bonnell calmly. A little later they were at the cove, and safely in the motor-boat, puffing across the lake, the red and green lights making shimmering jewels in the water. It was raining quite hard now, but the boys had some pieces of tarpaulin, with which the engine was covered nights, since there was no boat house. These stiff canvases the girls used to put over their shoulders, though they were pretty well wet through as it was. “Oh, be it ever so cheerless there’s no place like camp!” cried Mabel, as they reached the place of the tents. “I’m nearly starved.” “Well, you girls just get some dry things on,” directed her brother, “and we’ll make a ripping old fire, and have tea for you in a jiffy. Where do you keep the grub, anyhow?” “I’ll show you,” said Mrs. Bonnell, and soon the boys, with occasional laughter and gibes at the girls, were making a simple meal ready, while the camp fire, built from some wood stored under a strip of canvas to keep it dry, sent out its cheerful blaze. “Oh, and to think how miserable we were an hour ago!” sighed Natalie as she sipped the tea and ate some cakes, which, in lieu of sandwiches, the boys had served. “It was lovely of you to come for us,” said Marie. “And you didn’t find the Gypsies after all?” “No; I don’t believe they’re even in this neighborhood,” declared Blake. “If they were they skipped out since the pocket-book was taken. Have some more tea, Mrs. Bonnell?” “A half cup, if you please. It’s really delicious.” “Oh, we can make tea, even though we seldom drink it,” declared Jack. “Coffee is our main standby.”