"We'll all of us find it the best meal ever, just because we've tramped far enough and worked hard enough to make any kind of decent food taste great," Dick smiled. The supper over, and one of the campfires replenished, all six of the youngsters took the dishes down to the lake, carrying along two kettles of hot water, where a general dish-washing ensued. With so many to do the work, the camp was spick and span within twenty minutes. "Now, I'm going to enjoy one thing that I haven't had all day, and that's some real rest," Prescott declared, throwing himself down upon the grass. "I don't believe I shall move until bedtime." But he did. Already trouble was hovering over the camp. From out of the darkness beyond three pairs of eyes studied the campers in silence. One pair belonged to Bert Dodge, another the young Bayliss, and the third to a man of about middle age. Dodge and Bayliss were thoroughly angry. CHAPTER V BERT DODGE HEARS THE BATTLE CRY Ten minutes after Dick had thrown himself on the grass a rustling was heard above the camp. Then down the slope strode three figures. Dick sat up, regarding the visitors in silence until they came within the fringe of the light of the campfire. "Hello, Dodge," was Prescott's ready greeting. "I didn't hear you knock." "Then maybe you will, before long," retorted Bert, in a voice of barely suppressed fury. "Prescott, you sneak, how long since you have added grand larceny to your other bad habits?" "Try that over again," requested Dick calmly. "I don't believe I quite catch you." "Yes, you do," Dodge retorted. "Come now, no lying about it." "The nearest that I come to understanding you, as yet," Dick answered in an unruffled voice, "is that you appear to be trying to be offensive." "I'll be more than offensive with you, before I get through!" cried Bert, his temper rising. The third member of the visiting party was a man of about forty years, of sandy complexion and with a stubby, bristling red moustache. He looked like a man who had been born a fighter, though his face expressed keen attention rather than a desire to be quarrelsome. In dress this man looked as though he might be a farmer. Dick and his friends judged the man to be a rustic constable. "A nice trick you played on us!" Bert went on angrily. "You took our front tires off the wheels of the car and ran away with them." "Easy! Careful!" Dick smilingly advised. "Did anyone see us take the tires off and run away with them?" Bert looked astonished, then gulped chokingly. Did Prescott and his friends intend to deny the charge? "No one had to see you take the tires," Bert went on angrily. "All that is necessary is for us to discover the merchandise on you!" "Then you have missed some tires, and you think I'm wearing them?" Dick chuckled. "Don't try to sneak, lie or equivocate" commanded Bert Dodge, his face flushing with anger. "Those are my tires hanging from that line!"