ry story, Jack," breathed Toby, entranced.

"I take it," continued the wise Steve, "that if she wants certain
pictures of the region for some reason or other, the camping country has
already been settled on?"

"Yes, it has, and I hope you'll both be pleased when I tell you we are
going up into the Pontico Hills region, with a horse and covered wagon,
hired from Tim Butler's livery stable, to carry all our stuff along."

"The very place I've always wanted to spend a spell in!" ejaculated
Steve, exultantly. "It's surely a wild region, and a better camping
place couldn't be picked out, no matter how long you tried."

Toby, too, seemed delighted.

"I suppose now, Jack," he presently remarked, shrewdly, "this unknown
lady friend of yours doesn't want it known that any one is backing us in
our trip?"

"That is understood," he was informed speedily enough. "Of course our
folks must know where the money comes from, but the story ends there. It
is a dead secret, though later on when I'm at liberty to open my heart
and tell you just what it all means, you'll both agree with me that if
the kind lady is to get what she is aiming for, no one outside ought to
know a thing about her being interested in our trip."

Of course this sort of talk aroused the curiosity of the two boys to
fever pitch, but they did not attempt to "pump" Jack, knowing how
useless it would be; and at the same time realizing how unfair such a
proceeding would be toward their benefactress.

So they spent an hour and more in discussing the various means for
making their vacation in the woods a memorable one, long to be talked of
as the greatest event of the year. Long lists of needed supplies were
made up, and corrected, so that by the time Steve and Toby thought it
time to start homeward, they had managed to fairly map out their
programme.

"Fortunately we can hire that splendid big khaki-colored waterproof tent
belonging to Whitlatch the photographer," Jack said as the others were
leaving, "and all other necessities we'll pick up at our various homes.
Goodnight, fellows, and mum is the word, remember."

[Footnote 1: "Jack Winters' Baseball Team."]

CHAPTER II

JACK AND HIS MATES IN CAMP

It was rather late in the afternoon, some days later, when a light
covered wagon drawn by a stout though rather lazy horse, could have been
seen moving along the valley road among the famous Pontico Hills. Three
boys dressed for rough service in the woods