ill as we came along."

"That will be lovely; run along, little boy," said Ivy, and Mat, with a
last despairing glance at the feast, was gone, leaving her free to
resume her task.

Although there was quite a crowd, almost a dozen young people to feed,
the baskets seemed to disgorge enough for twenty. But then they were
Happy-Go-Lucky baskets!

"Leagues and Clubs someway have a selfish sound--as though everyone
outside didn't count for anything," Ivy said one day. "We mustn't let
ourselves get narrow that way," and they did not, for as Laura remarked
later, "When it came to picnics and good times generally, the
Happy-Go-Luckys was very 'stretchible'--it took in all the kids!"

While the girls proceeded blithely to get lunch, helped or hindered by
the younger children, loud voices were heard and presently a crowd of
ragged boys appeared on the upper road.

The girls, expecting them to go on their way, paid no attention to
them, but the lads attracted by the bounteous display of dainties, at
once gave notice of the find, and with whoops of delight came running
down the hillside and attacked the spread.

The girls were alarmed but stood their ground nobly.

"You had better go! Hugh Bonner and the other boys will soon be here!"
said Laura warningly.

"I've heard of the redoubtable Hughie--we ain't goin' to force our
company, we just want them cakes an' things! Come on, boys! Hurry!"

Laura stood guard over the table and Ivy raised a crutch to strike the
foremost but both girls were swept aside.

Some of the little ones turned to Laura for protection, while the
others ran screaming in the direction of the berry-patch, and a moment
later the berry-pickers were seen on the side of the hill.

Hugh, being somewhat in advance, saw the whole engagement.

When Laura and Ivy were routed, he noticed Alene turning as if for
flight. However, instead of running away as he had expected, she
stooped, picked up the pail of water left by Mat, and, turning back
with a sudden movement, dashed the fluid into the boys' faces.

Choked and blinded by the unexpected assault, they fell back.

The smallest boy, who had been in the rear, was the first to recover
from the sudden bath. With uplifted hand he made an angry dash at
Alene.

"Don't you dare to strike that girl!" cried a boy who came running down
from the road. He evidently belonged to the gang but had only appeared
on the scene in time to witness their rout. He was