ake
fast the side wall on one side. Hazel also ran around to the other
side, Margery to an end, then, for a few moments, the Meadow-Brook
Girls gave an exhibition of their skill in pitching a tent, while Janus
and Jim stood back in open-mouthed wonder.

"There!" exclaimed Harriet, flushed of face, eyes sparkling, "that is
the way we make camp."

"Well, I swum!" muttered Janus. "It beats all."

Jane turned the blankets on the line. By this time the clothing in the
packs was fairly well dried, but it looked wrinkled and old. Harriet
now began digging a trench around the sides of the tent, so they should
not be flooded in case of rain. Janus took the pick from her,
completing the job. The Meadow-Brook Girls moved rather rapidly for
the slow-going Janus. He was unused to such activity, especially in
women.

Margery and Tommy were busy clearing away the supper things. Jim went
out to bring the horses in nearer to camp, where he tied them up for
the night. At Janus's direction the driver also made a bed for the two
men out among the trees some distance from the tent that was to be
occupied by Miss Elting and her charges. The preparations for the
night went on with rather more confusion than usual, the party having
been more or less upset by the occurrences of the evening; beside
which, they had not yet become familiar with the routine that marked
the well-ordered camp.

"There isn't a dry piece of cloth in the place," complained Margery,
after examining the line of blankets and clothing. "What are we going
to do?"

"Sit up until the blankets, at least, have dried out," answered Jane.
"They are nearly dry now. See! Harriet is doing something to them.
What are you trying to do, darlin'?"

"Spread out some blankets on the ground and I'll show you," answered
Harriet laughingly. "It is an Indian trick I learned a long time ago."

The girl had placed some large, round stones in the fire, heating them
to a point that caused them to sizzle when a drop of water came in
contact with them. Poking three of these heated stones from the fire
Harriet rolled them in one of the gray army blankets. She did the same
with other blankets; then, passing from one to another, watched closely
for the odor of burning cloth. Only one blanket had to be opened to
permit the stones to cool off a little. For a full half hour these
heated stones were permitted to remain in the blankets. Then, upon
unrolling, the blankets were f