e a horde of
savages."

"All right," agreed Dolly, "we can have fun enough without them; but I
think they might take us along sometimes. Let's get up a rival picnic
some day, and see if they won't come to it."

"They won't," said Dotty, "but we can try it, if you like. And anyway
we can have our own fun."

So one day when all the boys of the neighbouring camps were going on a
fishing trip, the girls arranged a picnic of their own.

The two Holmes girls, Maisie Norris, Dolly and Dotty, and three or four
others, were in the crowd and they were to go in two motor boats to
Bramble Brook, the very spot where the boys were trout fishing that day.

Long Sam navigated one boat and the Norris's man engineered the other.

Dolly had evolved a plan for a great joke on the boys, which, she
flattered herself, would even up with Bert for the joke he had played on
her.

In pursuance of their plan, the girls were taking with them a most
marvellous luncheon.

There were boxes of devilled eggs, each gold and white confection in a
case of fringed white paper. Sandwiches in tiny rolls and fancy shapes.
Dishes of salad that were pictures in themselves, and platters of cold
meats cut in appetising slices and garnished with aspic jelly in
quivering translucence. Platters of cold chicken, delicately browned and
garnished with parsley and lemon slices. Dainty baskets of little
frosted cakes and tartlets filled with tempting jam covered with
frosting.

Oh, Dolly had planned well for her little joke, and if successful, it
would be rare sport.

The boys had been gone for hours when the girls started, and in their
fresh linen dresses and bright hair-ribbons they were a jolly looking
crowd who filled the two motor boats as they left the Crosstrees pier.

Mrs. Rose waved a good-bye, knowing the young people were safe, in
charge of Long Sam and old Ephraim, the tried and trusted factotum of
the Norris family.

"In you go!" cried Long Sam as he deftly handed the girls into the
boats, and the laughing crowd settled themselves to enjoy the trip.

It was a beautiful mid-summer day, and the heat sufficiently tempered by
the cool breezes that swept across the lake. The girls chattered and
sang and called to each other as the two boats kept close together on
their way.

When they reached Bramble Brook they did not go to the regular landing
place, but Long Sam cleverly found a concealed nook where they could
land without danger of being seen