told them; "and after you've all had a cup of hot coffee, which my
wife is getting ready right now, we'll be off."

Of course all of them were feeling much more cheerful, now that they
knew the hike would not have to be abandoned on account of this
accident. Some of the boys had begun to fear this would be the result.

"When I get back here from town," Mr. Witherspoon told them, "it is apt
to be late, and I'll be too tired to try that three miles over rough
ground. So I've made arrangements to stay here over-night with our good
friends. In the morning after breakfast I'll start off along the trail
for the camp. Of course it would be nice if several of you met me half
way there."

"We'll be only too glad to do that, sir," Josh told him; for Mr.
Witherspoon had by this time firmly entrenched himself in the
affections of his boys, who believed him to be the best scout master
any troop had ever boasted, barring none.

After seeing the car start, and giving Walter a rousing send-off that
must have done his heart good, the rest of the boys concluded to turn
their faces toward the camp.

"Three hours will seem an age to Billy Button," said Horace, who was
feeling quite proud of the fact that he had been chosen as one of the
litter-bearers.

"Oh! he'll have plenty to do cleaning all those fish we caught this
morning, and some other odd jobs I gave him," remarked Josh,
carelessly.

"Billy is inclined to be timid," Felix observed, loftily; "and it's a
good thing, for him to be left alone once in a while. Nothing like
making a scout feel he's just got to depend on himself for things."

The three miles was soon covered by the returning eight scouts.

"I can see smoke ahead!" announced Josh presently.

"Yes, and there's the pond shining in the light of the sun," added
Felix.

"Isn't that our chum, Billy, waving his hands to us?" asked George.
"Looks as if he wanted us to hurry up some. I wonder what's happened
now?"

"Oh! he's only anxious for us to join him," said Carl; "perhaps he made
a mistake in the time we were to be back, and he's gone and cooked all
the fish."

It was soon seen, however, that the guardian of the camp had a good
reason for his excitement. His face bore a troubled expression, it
struck Tom, when he drew near the camp.

"Anything gone wrong here Billy?" he asked.

"I should say there had, Tom!" he burst out with. "Why, would you
believe it, some miserable tramps raided the camp, and got away