In a race, you know, a good runner will very
often let a slower one stay ahead until they are near the finish. They
call it making the pace. And then, when he gets ready, he goes right
by, and wins as he likes."

But the warning, although Eleanor was sure that it had been needed,
seemed to spur the girls on. They were waiting eagerly when she gave
the word to start cleaning up, and each girl, her task assigned to her
in advance, was at work as soon as the command to go was given.

In no time at all, as it seemed, the dishes ware washed. Then Bessie
and Dolly, as tenders of the fire, brought buckets of water and poured
them over the glowing embers, for the rule of the Camp Fire never to
leave a spark of flame behind them in the woods was strictly enforced.

They put the fire out while the others finished packing the things that
had to be taken back. All the rubbish had been burned before water was
poured on the fire, and when everything was finished and the girls were
ready to start the march back to Long Lake there was no sign of their
visit except the blackened ring where the fire had burned.

"Zara, I'm going to leave you here as a sentry when we start," said
Eleanor. "I'll carry your pack until you join us."

"How long am I to stay?" asked Zara.

"Until you see that their fire is put out. That will mean that they
will be ready to start within two minutes, and I want to know just how
much of a start we have on the hike home."

"I see. As soon as they put it out I'm to start after you and report?"

"Yes. Here's my watch. Remember the exact time. If they catch up
with us, it will be on this hike."

Then they started, singing happily as they went down the hill. The
homeward path was easy. Burdens were lighter than they had been on the
trip from Long Lake, and the path was mostly down hill. And, moreover,
the Camp Fire Girls had the consciousness that, in order to win, they
needed only to hold the advantage they had gained.

"Here's Zara!" cried Bessie, who had been looking behind her.

"Good! What time did they put out their fire?" asked Eleanor.

"Just ten minutes after you started," said Zara. "I came as quickly as
I could, but you must have been walking fast."

"I told you they'd begin gaining on us," said Eleanor. "See, they
picked up ten minutes in clearing up. Come on, now, we must hurry!"

Hurry they did, and when they reached Long Lake there was a brief
period of bustle. A new fi