scouts.

"Now, listen! Tell them that I want them to start out at dawn in the
morning and hunt up all the tracks they can trace about their camp. Then
to-morrow afternoon they are to come over here with their reports and
have a match with you girls. The side showing the best results and most
interesting experience shall have a prize. How does it strike you?" Mr.
Gilroy glanced at the pleased faces as he concluded.

"Fine! Do they know much about tracks?" returned Julie.

"Oh, yes, but then you must understand that they have been scouting for
more than four years. Tell them that this is your first summer in a
genuine forest camp, and they need not expect you to accomplish wonders.
Then you girls must turn in and do your best!" laughed Mr. Gilroy.

The scouts were most enthusiastic, and gaily agreed to follow Mr.
Gilroy's suggestions. When they were ready to hike over the crest, the
Captain said, "We may as well invite the boys to supper to-morrow and
make a party of it."

"That will be splendid. And I'll contribute my quota to the dinner
instead of eating it at home," added Mr. Gilroy.

"We may have quail or partridge for dinner if we track the birds
carefully," suggested Joan, giggling.

"Venison steaks are better," hinted Mrs. Vernon.

"What's the matter with bear steaks, while we're about it? They're said
to be gamier in flavor," laughed Julie.

"We'll have all three, and serve a ten-course dinner to the boys," added
Ruth.

With light banter the scouts left Mr. Gilroy where the trails
diverged,--they to cross the crest and invite the boys over for supper
the next day, and Mr. Gilroy to go home to find the "bait."

Dandelion Camp was abandoned for a long time that day, and it was too
late in the afternoon when the scouts returned, to ask what had been
done in the woods during their absence; but a great deal had taken place
there, as Hiram and his master could have told had they been so
inclined. Even Jake could have testified to mysterious actions, and many
queer maneuvers of familiar animals from the barnyard, but the girls
never asked _him_. Their faith in Mr. Gilroy was sublime!

While the Dandelioners sat eating their camp supper, they discussed the
boys they had visited that day.

"I declare! I wonder if we ever _will_ know as much about the woods as
those Grey Fox boys do," sighed Hester, taking a bite of baked potato.

"Sure! We know almost as much as they do already," bragged Joan.

"They gave