now I am. But I believe I will have another cup of coffee before
we start. Did we rescue all of our equipment?"

"Some of it has been lost, but that doesn't matter so long as we have
you safe and sound, yes, there is the boy. Hoo-e-e-e!" called the
guardian.

"Ye-o-o-w!" answered the boy promptly. They saw him turn into the
byway. The horse he was driving was so thin that every rib stood out
plainly. The democrat wagon was all squeaks and groans, its wheels
being so crooked that the girls thought they were going to come off.

"You must help us to get our things aboard," said Miss Elting. "Will
your wagon hold them all?"

"If it doesn't break down," was the reply.

"Well, some of us can walk."

The boy backed his rickety wagon down near where the belongings of the
Meadow-Brook Girls lay in a tumbled heap. Jane assisted him in loading
the equipment, amazing the country boy by her strength and quickness.

"You going to camp, eh?" he questioned.

"We don't know what we are going to do," replied Jane. "We're likely
to do almost anything that happens to enter our minds as well as some
things that don't enter our minds. Stow that package under the seat
forward; yes, that way. There. Do you think of anything else, Miss
Elting!"

"Nothing except the automobile. I hardly think we shall be able to
take that with us."

"Indeed, no," answered Jane with a broad grin. "We'll let Dad do that.
Who is going to ride?"

"Let's see. Harriet, of course--"

"I can walk," protested Harriet.

"No; you will ride. Margery and Tommy also may ride. Hazel, Jane and I
will walk. It will do us good, for we need exercise this morning,
though I must say that a little breakfast would not come amiss."

"You thay that ith a Democrat wagon?" questioned Tommy.

"Yes, dear. Why do you ask?" answered Miss Elting smilingly.

"I jutht wanted to know. I'll walk, thank you, Mith Elting. You thay
it ith a Democrat wagon?"

"Yes, yes. What of it?"

"I wouldn't ride in a Democrat wagon. My father would dithown me if I
did! If it wath a Republican wagon, now, it would be all right--but a
Democrat wagon--thave me!"

CHAPTER V

THE ROCKY ROAD TO WAU-WAU

"You surely are a loyal little Republican, Tommy. Whether we agree
with you in politics or not, we must respect your loyalty. However, I
think you had better get up and ride," urged Miss Elting.

Tommy shook her head, regarding the democrat wagon with a disapproving
squint. Jane ass