“I’ll get square, you mark my words,” cried Reff Ritter, savagely, as all were waiting for ice-cream to be served. “I don’t understand how they got the hornets’ nest,” said Paxton. “They made some kind of an exchange,” said Coulter. “And we got it in the neck!” he added, coarsely. “Yes, and in the face and on our hands too,” added another cadet, who had a swollen forehead. The cadets were about to leave the refreshment place when they saw a carriage approaching on the road which skirted the lake shore. The carriage contained Mr. and Mrs. Ford and their two daughters. “Come on, we don’t want to meet those folks,” said Ritter. “I am not afraid of them,” said Paxton. “I’ll get out when I feel like it.” Some were for going and some were for staying, and the upshot of the matter was that Paxton and two others remained. Ritter, Coulter and the rest rowed off down the lake. When the Paxton crowd came back they were met by the others. Paxton was excited and looked at Ritter and Coulter knowingly. “I’ve got a note for Major Ruddy,” said one of the cadets, a lad named Wilbur who had only been at the school a short while. “That gentleman who stopped at the refreshment place gave it to me.” “What’s it about?” asked Ritter, abruptly. “I know,” said Paxton quickly. “I’ll tell you about it later.” As soon as the encampment grounds were reached Wilbur went off to deliver the note to Jack. Paxton called Ritter and Coulter to him, and the three walked away to a spot where nobody could hear them. “That note to Ruddy is an invitation for the Ruddy crowd to go on a picnic with the Fords,” said Paxton. “I overheard the Fords mention it when Mr. Ford was writing the note.” “When and where?” demanded Ritter. “They are going up to Butterfly Island day after to-morrow, directly after breakfast. They’ll take lunch along and stay there until supper time. They’ve invited Ruddy, Ditmore, Snow and Blackmore to participate.” “Butterfly Island, eh?” mused the bully. “Yes. Say, why can’t we go up there too and spoil the fun?” went on Paxton. “That’s the talk!” added Coulter. “We can—if we can get away from the camp,” answered Ritter. “Let us watch our chance and see what we can do. How are they to go to the island?” “Mr. Ford is going to charter a launch, the _Emma_, and will stop here for the others,—if they get permission to go.” “Oh, they’ll get permission easily enough—Captain Putnam wouldn’t care to offend such a rich man as Mr. Ford.” While this talk was going on the note was delivered to Jack. The young major read it and then sought out his chums. “Here’s a chance for a fine outing!” cried Jack, and handed the invitation around for inspection. “If Captain Putnam will let us accept,” said Pepper. “Let us go and ask him right now.” They soon found the head of the school and showed him the note. “Yes, you may go,” said he. “Only remember to be back by nightfall,—and don’t get into any mischief.” “We’ll remember,” said Andy.