"All right, I'll get our young people to start out today and find some more for us. A big crowd will be up on Friday." "Yes, I'll be bound they will, and all of them empty. I should think the railroad cyars would chawge mo' ter haul the folks back from this here camp than what they do to git 'em here. They sho' goes back a-weighing mo' than what they do whin they comes a-creepin' up the mountain actin' like they ain't never seed a squar' meal in they lives." Oscar's grumbling on the subject of the amount of food consumed by the boarders was a never failing source of amusement to the Carter girls. They were never so pleased as when the boarders were hungry and enjoyed the food. No doubt Oscar was pleased, too, but he was ever outwardly critical of the capacity of the week-enders. Lucy and Lil, Skeeter and Frank were delighted to be commissioned to go hunting for food. Many were the adventures they had while out on these foraging parties and many the tales they had to tell of the inhabitants of the mountain cabins. There were several rules they must obey and besides those they had perfect liberty to do as they felt like. The first rule was that they must wear thick boots and leggins on these tramps. The snake bite Helen had got early in the summer had been a lesson learned in time and now all the campers were made to comply with the rule of leggins whenever they went on hikes. The second rule was that they must be home before dark and must report to Douglas or Helen as soon as they got home. The third was that they must tell all their adventures to one of the older girls. If they obeyed these three rules they were sure to get into no trouble. "Fix us up a big lunch, please, Helen. We are going 'way far off. There's a man on the far side of Old Baldy that Josh says has great big frying-sizers," declared Lil. "Well, be sure you are back before dark," admonished Helen, in her grownupest tone, according to Lucy. "All right, Miss Grandma, but I don't see why I have to get in before dark if you don't. You know you and Doctor Wright came in long after supper one night--said you got lost, but you can tell that to the marines," said Lucy pertly. "Just for that, I've a great mind to put red pepper in your sandwiches," said Helen, blushing in spite of herself. "Well, I suppose if we get lost, we won't have to get in before dark, either," teased Lucy. "Yes, but don't you get lost. Douglas and I are always a bit uneasy until you are back, as it is," pleaded Helen. "You know mother would have a fit if you were out late." "Oh, don't listen to her, Miss Helen. We'll take care of the girls and bring 'em back safe. Frank and I couldn't get lost on these mountains if we tried," and Skeeter drew himself up to his full height, which was great for a boy of fifteen and seemed even greater because of his extreme leanness. "Can't we take our guns, Miss Helen?" pleaded Frank.