ntleness and kindness of heart overpower me, Oh, Victoria of
Beechwood Forest," Lance answered. He bowed in the graceful fashion
that for some unexplainable reason often aggravated Tory, and Dorothy
and Donald McClain; Lance's own sister and brother.

Lance was too unlike other boys at times not to be trying.

"Come down to the shore of the lake with me, won't you Princess
Nausicaa?" he demanded. "See how well I remember the name some one
bestowed upon you when I was here before. I have another reason for
recalling it. I shall explain in another instant if you will be so
good as to listen.

"What a pleasure to find you alone! Of course I expected it. I can't
say I should have cared to enter this particular camp if I had been
forced to face the entire troop of disapproving maiden Scouts. Still,
there is something I am anxious to have brought to your attention.
Come along, Tory."

The girl shook her head.

"Not so far away as the lake, Lance. I'll come to the big beech here
near the cabin. I'll know then if Kara wakes and wants me, yet we will
not be near enough to disturb her."

Under the deep green shelter Tory looked more searchingly at her
companion.

"You say you expected to find me at camp with most of the other girls
away. Did you see them on their hike or did Dorothy tell you we were
planning an all-day tramp?"

Lance shook his head.

"No, I have seen no one and heard nothing from Dorothy. If I have a
secret source of information isn't that my affair? In any case you
would not have me betray another?"

Tory sighed.

"Oh, for goodness sake, Lance, do say what you intend to say in a
straightforward fashion. I wish you were more like Don. One can always
understand and depend upon Don."

Then, when she saw Lance flush, Tory regretted her speech.

"I am all too accustomed to that remark, Tory. I assure you that if I
have seen any one from your camp or received any information
concerning you, it is not because I desired to be disagreeable. I was
hoping I might be allowed to extend you the olive branch.

"In fact, I have the olive branch with me. It is hidden away in my
book."

CHAPTER IX

THE ODYSSEY

Tory took the book into her own hands. Sitting down on the ground, she
opened the leaves carefully.

Nothing to suggest an olive branch met her gaze, not a pressed leaf or
a flower which might have served as a symbol.

Seated beside her, Lance's thin face, with its tanned skin and
humoro