ucky enough to get lost, before he secured his bearings,
might have a serious time of it.

Of course the boys had been taught various ways of telling the four
points of the compass. Sun, moon and stars could be depended on when
visible. On a cloudy day or night the bark of the trees would serve as
a guide; since the green, mossy side was almost invariably toward the
north. Besides, Paul knew how to make a compass out of his watch, though
he generally carried a real magnetic needle in his pocket for
emergencies.

He and Wallace, accompanied by Jack, set to work looking the ground
over, with the idea of picking out the best place suitable for a camp.

"It must be not far from the lake, because we want this nice view," said
Paul. "Then it ought to slope just a little, so as to drain, in case of
a heavy rain storm. We don't want to be under any of those big trees
either; and you can see why, if you notice what happened to one of them
long ago."

"Yes, that's so," declared Jack; "for a bolt of lightning did knock that
one down, sure as you're born. How's this place, Paul?"

A selection was presently made that answered the purpose. Paul was of
the opinion that it would be open to the sweep of the western wind in
case of a violent wind storm; but then they hoped nothing of the sort
would visit them while up here in camp.

Once the word was given, and every boy got busy. Tents were pitched with
rapidity, and having had one rude experience every fellow made sure that
his pins were driven deep into the ground. In some places where this
was not possible they made use of obliging rocks to hold the canvas
snugly down.

The flag pole was cut, and planted under Paul's directions; and soon Old
Glory floated proudly in the breeze, with their prize banner just below
it.

"What shall we call the camp?" went up the cry.

"We had Camp Misery and Camp Rescue; what's the objection to calling
this Camp Surprise?" asked Wallace, quickly.

"That's a good name! Camp Surprise it is!" shouted several in chorus;
and as such the permanent camp went down in the log book of every
scout.

CHAPTER XXI

THE LIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN

"Paul, we're not alone up here after all!"

It was Jack who made this remark. He had been skirmishing around later
in the afternoon; and came upon the other as Paul was standing at the
edge of the lake, looking out upon its surface, to where some ducks
floated.

"Well, I never believed we did own the