ied to the end of the dock. There was the
usual bustle and turmoil of embarking, but no delay, for every one was
too anxious to see the camp to waste any time stowing himself away. In
ten minutes the entire crowd was disposed of and the ropes cast off.

The bay was over a mile wide at this point. Its waters, stirred into
ripples by the freshening breeze, glinted in the rays of the afternoon
sun. Against the dark green of the farther shore a string of little
islands showed and started a buzz of eager comment and question. About
half-way across, the camp itself came suddenly into sight, a trim row of
glistening white tents outlined against a background of fir and cedar,
which brought forth a shout of delight.

"Gee! Don't it look great? I can hardly believe we're here, can you?"

But there could be no question of the reality of it all as they tumbled
into the trailers and went ashore in relays. It was a rather small
point, jutting out from the larger one into the comparatively quiet
waters of the bay. For some distance back the undergrowth had been
cleared away, but clumps of bushy cedars and glossy-leaved holly
remained to give shade and diversity. Six wall-tents, each with a
wooden floor and bunks to accommodate eight boys, were pitched on two
sides of a square, at the corner of which stood a larger tent known as
headquarters. Here dwelt the governing powers, in the shape of the
commissioner and the three scoutmasters, and in front of it, on a
rustic pole fluttered the Stars and Stripes. Across the square, among
the trees, was a large dining-tent, and behind that a substantial frame
cook-shack.

To the new arrivals, hot and dusty from their long ride, it all looked
tremendously cool and inviting, and there was a rush to shed uniforms
and get into shorts and undershirts. Dale Tompkins found himself placed
in a tent with Court Parker, Sanson, Bob Gibson, Trexler, Vedder and
Bennie Rhead, with Ranleigh Phelps as leader. The latter's presence
rather surprised him. He supposed Ranny would want to be with Torrance
and Slater, two of his closest chums. Later, learning that Wesley Becker
was tent-leader with that crowd, he decided that the arrangement was
due to the camp heads rather than to Ranny's personal preference.

But no matter what the cause, Tompkins was distinctly glad of the other's
presence. Though he tried not to build any hopes on what might be merely
the result of his own imagination, Dale had a feeling that