[Illustration: THE NEXT MOMENT SOME ONE WAS SEEN HOLDING A LAMP IN HIS HAND] THE CAMPERS OUT OR THE RIGHT PATH AND THE WRONG BY EDWARD S. ELLIS, A. M. Author of “True to His Trust,” “Among the Esquimaux,” etc. THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY PHILADELPHIA MDCCCXCVIII Copyright 1893 by The Penn Publishing Company CONTENTS I. The Plotters II. How the Scheme Worked III. A Startling Occurrence IV. The Runaways V. The Way of the Transgressor VI. Sowing Seed VII. One Afternoon in Autumn VIII. Fellow-Passengers IX. Dick Halliard X. A Startling Summons XI. No Joke XII. The Victim of a Mistake XIII. Adrift in the Swamp XIV. Host and Guests XV. The Forest Path XVI. The Plotters XVII. A Brave Exploit XVIII. An Act of Forgetfulness XIX. An Error of Judgment XX. The Baying of a Hound XXI. “Help! Help!” XXII. Hot Quarters XXIII. A Brilliant Shot XXIV. Suspicious Footprints XXV. Up a Tree XXVI. Hunting the Hunters XXVII. A Race for Life XXVIII. A Cry from the Darkness XXIX. A Sad Discovery XXX. A Friend Indeed XXXI. Dick Halliard Is Astounded XXXII. How It Happened XXXIII. Conclusion THE CAMPERS OUT CHAPTER I THE PLOTTERS Jim McGovern was poring over his lesson one afternoon in the Ashton public school, perplexed by the thought that unless he mastered the problem on which he was engaged he would be kept after the dismissal of the rest, when he was startled by the fall of a twisted piece of paper on his slate. He looked around to learn its starting point, when he observed Tom Wagstaff, who was seated on the other side of the room, peeping over the top of his book at him. Tom gave a wink which said plainly enough that it was he who had flipped the message so dexterously across the intervening space. Jim next glanced at the teacher, who was busy with a small girl that had gone to his desk for help in her lessons. The coast being clear, so to speak, he unfolded the paper and read: “Meat Bill Waylett and me after scool at the cross roads, for the bizness is of the utmoast importants dont fale to be there for the iurn is hot and we must strike be4 it gits cool. Tom.” The meaning of this note, despite its Volapük construction, was clear, and Jim felt that he must be on hand at all hazards.