?"

Betty said nothing. She made a general rule of backing up her elder
sister in family disputes, and yet she could not help feeling that in
this case John had a just cause of complaint. The ceremony had been
very disappointing.

"Very well then," said Madge, seeing that it was no use to fight
against public opinion, "I suppose I must do it all over again.
Although I have something to say that you can't even imagine."

"I don't believe there is such a thing," said John stolidly. "I can
imagine anything a girl can, I know that."

Old as she was, Madge nearly cried with impatience. "If you are going
to contradict and argue," she began, "it's no good--"

"We will be quiet! We will really!" interrupted Betty, who, on the
whole, had a peace-loving disposition.

"Very well then," said Madge, recovering herself a little, but still
speaking with rather terrific dignity. "I declare this Eagle's Nest
open. It has been erected regardless of trouble and expense by--by--"

"The young eagles," suggested Betty.

"Yes, by the young eagles," continued Madge, "for the use and amusement
of--of--"

"The young eagles," again suggested Betty.

"Of course! Amusement of the young eagles," repeated Madge rather
inattentively, for she was thinking of something else. "And we hope
they will enjoy it! And I think that's all. Now I'll tell you my last
plan!"

"All right!" muttered John, settling himself with a contented grunt
upon the sticks. Now that the new building had been properly opened,
his mind was at rest.

"Well, this is what I think," began Madge. "It's rather absurd for us
to have a grand staircase up to our place of refuge. What we want is a
ladder that we can pull up after us so that the enemy can't follow!"

"What a splendid idea!" said Betty admiringly. "But I am afraid Barton
would never allow us to take his ladders out of the barn. He is always
dreadfully cross if we only take them out to look at a bird's nest, and
he finds they have gone. And he would be sure to see us carrying them
across the fields."

"Yes, but you see I have thought of all that!" replied Madge with a
smile of superior wisdom. "I told you I had a good idea, and I have,
though John did not believe it! What do you say to a rope-ladder?"

CHAPTER V.

THE BOY WHO MOUNTED IT.

It is just possible that there comes a time of life when the heart does
not beat responsively at the bare suggestion of a rope-ladder. Then a
d