“Stop!” commanded Mabel. “In the first place, Phil, the Camp Fire Girls’ organization wasn’t formed to go out in the woods, though lots of them do. We can have just as good a time at home. But, for all that, we do intend to go camping, and to make our own camp fires, too!” “Mabel!” gasped Natalie. “Oh, Mabel!” whispered Marie. “Who ever said that?” demanded Alice. There was a momentous pause. “We seem to have stirred up trouble,” said Blake softly. “They’ll never go camping!” came from Jack. “Here, I’ll offer a challenge—we all will. If you girls go to a genuine, bonafide camp, live by yourselves in tents, make the camp fire, cook your own meals, the same as we fellows do—why we’ll come up and see you once in a while. How’s that?” “And bring you each a two-pound box of the best candy in town,” added Phil. “And take back all we’ve said,” went on Blake. “Boys,” began Mabel, somewhat solemnly, “we never gave this consideration until now. That is the others didn’t. But it has been in my mind since we thought of becoming Camp Fire Girls. I don’t see why we can’t go off in the woods this summer. It would be jolly,—I think.” “Lovely,” breathed Natalie. “I’ll go if the others do,” conceded Alice. “We’d have to have a chaperone,” remarked Marie. “Mrs. Bonnell, our Guardian, would come, I think,” suggested Mabel. “Then let’s accept the boys’ challenge!” exclaimed Natalie. “I don’t see why we can’t make a fire as well as they. As for cooking, there is so much that comes canned now that it’s really no trouble at all. We always live on canned things when our girl leaves.” “Then it’s decided!” echoed Mabel, clapping her hands. “We’ll become real Camp Fire Girls. Now I must be going. Don’t forget—come over this evening. And, Phil, bring that Indian book.” “I will,” he promised. “Say, do you think they will go camping?” asked Jack, as his two chums took their leave, while his sister led her girl friends to her room to show a new dress she had bought. “Never!” cried Blake. “They’re just bluffing.” “It wouldn’t be a bad plan for us to go camping ourselves this summer,” remarked Phil. “I’ll go you!” cried Jack. “I’ll think about it,” agreed Blake. “He means he’ll go if the girls do,” put in Jack. “Well, I’ll see you this eve.,” and with that he pretended to dig into some of his Academy studies, for he and his friends, as did the girls, went to the same institution in the little semi-country town of Middleford. “Did you really mean what you said, Mabel, about going camping?” asked Natalie, as the three walked away from Marie’s house, some time later, having in the interim found many matters about which to chat. “I didn’t at first—but when I saw how the boys took me up I did. I don’t see why we can’t do it—and be real Camp Fire Girls.” “We can,” declared Alice with decision.