ven.

The afternoon was waning when once more they came in sight of the sea.
The setting sun had turned the expanse of ocean into a vast plain of
shimmering, quivering gold. The Meadow-Brook Girls uttered
exclamations of delight when they set eyes on the scene. For a few
moments they stood still, gazing and gazing as if it were not possible
to get enough of the, to most of them, unusual spectacle.

A full quarter of a mile ahead they observed that the shores a little
back were quite heavily wooded, though the trees were small and
slender. This particular spot seemed to have attracted Miss Elting's
attention to the exclusion of all else. As she looked, a smile
overspread her countenance. The girls did not observe it.

"We are nearly there," she called.

"Near the camp?" asked Tommy.

"Yes, the camp, you little tantalizer," chuckled the guardian. "But
you will not know what camp until you reach it."

"Oh, yeth I thall. It ith our camp, the Meadow-Brook camp."

"I hear shouts. I do believe they are girls'," cried Crazy Jane. She
glanced inquiringly at Miss Elting, but the latter's face now gave no
hint as to what was in her mind. "Come on; let's run, girls."

With one accord they started forward at a brisk trot. This brought a
wail from the limping Margery.

"Wait for me," she cried. "I--I can't run."

To their surprise Tommy halted, waited for Buster, then, linking an
arm within hers, assisted Margery to trot along and keep up with her
companions. Miss Elting gave Grace an appreciative nod and smile,
which amply repaid the little girl for her kindly act. They covered
the distance to the miniature forest in quick time, impelled by their
curiosity, now realizing that they were to meet with the surprise that
their guardian had prepared for them. Harriet had a fairly well
defined idea as to what was awaiting them, but even she was to be
happily surprised.

They reached a point opposite the little forest, when, as they looked
toward the sea, visible in spots between the trees, they discovered a
row of tents, and in the center of an open space a flag fluttering
from a sapling from which the limbs and foliage had been trimmed.

"It's Camp Wau-Wau!" shouted Crazy Jane. "Come along, darlin's. Let's
see what else there is to surprise us."

The girls rushed in among the trees, shouting and laughing. They
brought up in the middle of the encampment and halted. A middle-aged,
pleasant-faced woman stepped from a tent, ga