king for a cow."

Just then the sound of approaching footsteps was heard.

"They come!" announced Jack. "I was merely the herald. Have you made
out the menu, Cora dear?"

"Do you mean to say we have to feed--all you boys?" demanded Bess.

"Feed us? No, we can eat with spoons. Just lead us to the eats.
Really, it is serious with Dray. He has already gone dead white. Come
in, fellows. We are expecting you. The girls are just getting out the
best linen!"

Dray, Walter and Ed entered, and like Jack, showed signs of starvation.
They literally fell into the most convenient spot available as they
reached the room.

"Good evening, ladies," panted Dray. "We are delighted to accept your
kind invitation to dine with you. Pray pardon the togs. I feel like a
regular 'toff,' don't you know, but my studs are for the moment lost.
And what is a frock without the studs!"

"Well, if this isn't the very utmost," said Cora, laughing at the
boys' predicament. "Do you mean to say that you are really hungry?"

"Shall we demonstrate?" asked Ed. "Do you allow us? Belle, get out the
chronometer and a hunk of something. If you don't soon you will have a
case of homicide on your hands."

Finally believing that the boys were hungry, the girls proceeded to
empty the ice box on the back porch. They did not find any too much
food there, for the sudden departure of their housekeeper that
afternoon had left the girls themselves almost stranded. But, being
girls, they managed the living end a little better than the boys did.

The boys, it seemed, had laid in a stock of canned stuff, in the usual
hit-and-miss way, but some other campers found the "cave" where the
food had been hidden. It was out of the question either to take or get
ice, so the next best thing considered was the digging of a big hole
in a very damp place. Into this the boys had sunk a nice, clean,
galvanized tub, and in it the victuals had been placed. On top was a
cover, made of boards and oil cloth, and over this was placed the limb
from a tree, this last to detract attention.

"Now, wouldn't you think," said Jack, as he fortified himself with a
sandwich, "that any decent chap would know that we belonged to the
union? We are going to form a housewives' league at dawn to-morrow,
and then we will find the culprits. They will be offering us our own
grub at exorbitant rates."

"Bright little Jackie," commented Bess, who was devouring cheese and
macaroons. "When you find the cu