it."

"I am sorry they are going up into the Windy Mountains," said Shep.
"It will-----" And then he stopped short.

"Say, Shep, if you keep on like that we'll pitch you overboard,"
cried Whopper. "If you've got anything to tell, tell it, or else
keep still."

"Wait till we get to Lackney's orchard," was all the doctor's son
would reply.

They soon came to a bend in the river and, crossing here, drew up
to a spot where some trees and bushes overhung the water. All
leaped ashore and Snap tied the craft fast to a stake. Then the
chums strolled up to some near-by apple trees, selected some fruit
that suited them, and threw themselves on the ground to enjoy their
feast.

"Now we are ready to listen to your imperial majesty's secret,"
observed Giant as he munched a juicy apple.

"Yes, let us in on it, by all means," added Snap.

"And don't say it's about lessons for the coming fall," put in
Whopper with a mock-serious look.

"Lessons!" burst out Giant. "Perish the thought!"

"Well, to start with," began the doctor's son. "How would you like
to go camping again?"

"Fine!"

"Great!"

"Couldn't be better!"

"Just as I thought," continued Shep. "And just what I told my
father. He wants us to go out, you know," and Shep's eyes began
to twinkle.

"He wants us to go out?" asked Whopper. "You mean he is willing for
you to go?"

"No, he told me to ask you if you wanted to go out---for him."

"Mystery on mystery," came from Giant. "For him? I don't understand."

"Neither do I," came simultaneously from Snap and Whopper.

"Will, it's this way, to tell you the whole story. Can you keep a
secret?"

"Of course!"

"Well, then, my father has become interested in a big land company
that has procured a large reservation of land in and along the Windy
Mountains. The company isn't going to do much with the reservation
this year, but next year it is going to build camps up by the lake,
and advertise it as a sort of private hunting and fishing resort.
They hope to get the better class of sportsmen up here from the
cities and make considerable money."

"Yes; but how does that affect us?" asked Giant impatiently.

"Wait and you'll see. My father says the success of the scheme will
depend very largely on how it is presented to the public, and he and
two of the other men have decided to do some high-class advertising
of the project---little booklets and folders, and all that. These
booklets and folders a