"Oh, dear, but I hope nothing happens to keep Dodge and Bayliss from coming to-night," breathed Tom, as he labored fast. "David, little giant, hurry up with those barrels. There can be no telling how soon we shall have to defend ourselves with these 'Quaker' guns!" As they worked, the high school boys indulged in many a chuckle. "It takes something like this to keep me awake to-night," Dick yawned. "If there were no excitement coming, I'm so dead sleepy that I could go right into dreamland standing up." "So could I," chirped Dave. "But I manage to keep awake by enjoying the thought of how thoroughly we'll wake up someone else tonight!" "If our plans don't miscarry," warned Dick. "Please don't croak about failure or disappointment," begged Tom tragically. "My warm, impulsive young heart won't stand any disappointment to-night." So they toiled on, their preparations all along the line taking shape rapidly. By ten o'clock they had everything completed, including the manufacture of the "Quaker" rifles. "Now, to our posts," chuckled Dick, after a rapid distribution of things from the packages brought up from the village. The campfire was allowed to burn low. Some light was still needed for the full success of their plans. Tom and Dan took up their stand in front of the tent, each armed with a "Quaker" gun. CHAPTER XIX BERT DODGE HEARS FRIGHTFUL NEWS Half an hour passed. At last there came the long-drawn, doleful note of the screech owl. It was but an amateurish imitation; an Indian would have treated it with contempt, but it was well enough done to deceive untrained ears. Tom glanced at Danny Grin, smiling quietly. The imitation note of the screech owl was a signal from Dick that Dodge and Bayliss had arrived, and were starting their nonsense. Still Tom did not speak of this to Dan. There could be no telling whether Dodge or Bayliss might be within hearing already. So Tom and Dan, gripping their quite harmless weapons, became more alert in appearance. It was true enough that Dodge and Bayliss were now on the scene. They had hidden their car off at the side of the road, a mile or more below, and had crept forward with their outfit for the night's big scare. Dodge carried half a dozen large hot-air balloons, which he had made for the purpose. Under the other arm be carried a package that looked as though it had come from a department store. Bayliss, a broad grin on his face, carried the working parts of a new style siren whistle, intended for automobiles, but a machinist had succeeded in flutting some new notes and effects into the screech of this ear-splitter. "I hope they won't take the noise of this siren for the cry of a screech owl," whispered Bayliss, as the pair stole stealthily along. "If they do, they'll soon get over that idea, and find their real fright up in the air," Bert Dodge whispered in response. "I wonder how much further on their camp is, or whether we're anywhere near it?" Bayliss asked.