s
flashing at her. But the other girls understood.

"Thank you," said Grace again, non-committally.

"Well--good-bye!" said Mrs. Jallow, a farewell in which Kittie joined
faintly, but Alice, without a word, turned her back and marched toward
the cabin, where the two boys still were.

"She tried to find out all she could," said Mollie when the outdoor
girls had gotten out of sight in the woods. "That's all she talked for."

"Yes, and I believe they just came up here camping because they heard we
were here," went on Betty. "Oh, I do hope we don't get into any trouble
with them."

"It will have to be of their making," said Grace firmly. "I'll never set
foot on that land Mr. Jallow claims if I can help it. It might
complicate legal matters."

"That is a wise decision," said Allen, viewing it from a lawyer's
standpoint. "Let the trespass come from them, if there is to be any."

They talked over the unexpected meeting with their rivals, and
speculated as to when they had come, and the motive that brought them,
also, to a winter camp.

"I believe it's just to spy on us!" declared Mollie. "We have evidently
frightened them, Grace."

"Then they must have something to be frightened about," said Will. "I do
wish we could get on the track of something, or somebody, who could let
us know how to prove that the boundary is wrong; for wrong father surely
thinks it is."

"We'll do the best we can," suggested Allen. "I am going to send for
copies of the deeds, and then we'll look along the present boundary
marks. I may be able to see if they have been changed. I once studied
surveying."

"I want you boys to promise something," said Grace, as they neared their
cabin.

"What is it?" asked Frank.

"Not to have any quarrels with those girls--Alice and Kittie."

"We never quarrel with girls," said Will.

"Well, then, with those boys, either."

"We won't do anything to provoke a quarrel if they don't, Sis," Will
promised. "But we're not going to let them walk over us; eh, fellows?"

"Of course not!" cried Frank.

"Oh, but please don't get into a--a fight!" begged Grace, and she meant
it.

"All right, little one; here is a chocolate for thou!" laughed Will, as
he crowded one into her mouth.

For a few days our friends saw nothing of Alice and the rival campers.
They did not go toward the part of the wood where the Jallow cabin was
located, and Mrs. Jallow did not bring her charges toward the place
where our boys and