"Why," explained Dave, for Tubby could not defend himself. "We saw Grace making the fire, and we knew the wood was green. It made a big smudge coming out of the chimney, and Tubby thought he had a brilliant idea." "I know!" exclaimed Frankie. "He had that plank to put over the top of our chimney. We'd have been smoked out, sure enough." "That's it," chuckled Dave. "Tubby got up all right, and he got the plank up all right. But just as he tried to lift the plank to the top of the chimney his foot slipped, the board dropped, he fell on it as if he was coasting down hill, and--you saw the rest!" "Oh--oh!" chattered Tubby. "Come on in and let me get--get to--to th-that f-f-fire. I'm _frozen_!" "Here's the key, Dave," said Wyn, laughing (for the fat youth _did_ look so funny), "and you can lock up when you go home and bring the key to my house. Don't you boys make a mess in here for us to clean up," she added. "But they will. Boys always do," declared Bessie Lavine. "Well, thank goodness, it won't be _my_ turn to clean up after them, or make another fire," declared Grace. "They will do no damage," returned Wyn, with assurance, as the girls trooped away from the boathouse toward the town. "They have to keep their camp clean," declared Frank. "I know that. Professor Skillings may be forgetful; but he is very particular about _that_. Ferdinand Roberts told me so." "I expect those horrid Busters _do_ know a lot more than we do about camping." "Indeed they do," sighed Grace. "How'll we ever put up a tent big enough to house seven?" "The boys will help us," declared Wyn. "I expect we'll have to let them," grumbled Bess. "Or else pay a man to do it for us." "My goodness me!" laughed Frances Cameron. "It must be a dreadful thing to hate boys like Bess does! They're awfully bad sometimes, I know----" "Look at what those two boys tried to do to us this very evening," exclaimed Bessie. "Oh, Tubby's always up to some foolishness," said Percy, laughing. "And that Dave Shepard is just as bad!" cried Bess Lavine, tossing her head. "Wyn won't agree with that statement," chuckled Frank. "And all six of the Busters are full of mischief," went on the complaining one. "I wish they were not going to the same place we are to camp." "Why, Bess!" exclaimed Mina. "I _do_ wish that. They'll be around under foot all the time. And they'll play tricks, and be rough and rude, and I know they will spoil the summer for us." "You go on!" came from Frank, with some scorn. "I guess I can hold up my end against the Busters." "Just wait and see," prophesied Bessie, shaking her head. "I feel very sure that, the Busters and the Go-Ahead Club will not get along well together at Lake Honotonka." "It takes two parties for an argument," said Wyn Mallory, quietly. "And in spite of their mischief I believe in the Busters." "Wait and see if what I say isn't true!" snapped Bessie, and turned off into a side street toward her own home. CHAPTER III POLLY