snorting noise!"

The scouts laughed heartily at the graphic picture of Hester crying up
in the tree, but the girl retorted, "Well, isn't 'Discretion the better
part of valor'?"

"Of course it is! We'd have done the same thing," agreed Mrs. Vernon,
still laughing at Amy's story. Then she suggested breaking camp.

After cleaning away all signs of camping, the scouts climbed into the
cars which were soon speeding along. They were keen, now, for something
new that they could write in their diaries, and many interesting things
were seen and dilated upon as they rode past.

As the autos neared Schenectady, one of the scouts began singing; in a
few moments all the girls were singing with her. But a hound ran out of
the gate of a farmhouse and barked at the oncoming singers. Then the
distracted dog sat down and lifted his snout high in the air. His dismal
prolonged howl of protest at such singing effectually ended the song,
and Julie called to the animal, "Wise doggy--to be able to tell singing
from _singing_!"

The weather was all that could be desired, and the two cars were in fine
shape for the run. After they left Amsterdam, where the large
carpet-mills would have offered interesting entertainment had not the
scouts a greater ambition in view, that of reaching camp--they voted to
stop for no sightseeing along the way. So they kept along the road to
Fonda. Here they left the railroad turnpike and went northward to
Johnstown.

At this place Mrs. Vernon made an error in judgment. She should have
gone westerly, through Rockwood, Lascelville, Oppenheim, and so on to
Delgeville. But she took the northward road, which looked better and was
more traveled. Not until she came to Gloversville did she realize the
mistake. Then she stopped and questioned a policeman how to reach her
destination. And he explained about the country road she must follow
due west in order to reach Rockwood, where the state roads would be
picked up again.

This advice was followed, and they traveled over the bad road until a
crossroad was reached. There was no mention made of this spot on the
road-map, and there was no signpost to direct a lost tourist. So the
Captain said, "We'll take the right-hand turn, it looks best."

Further on, the road descended and ran close to a river. "Dear me, I
hope we didn't take the wrong turn, anyway!" cried Mrs. Vernon. "That
officer never told me about a crossroad."

"And it's going to pour, too. Just look at th