overed, provided the
girls remained quiet.

The paraphernalia for the evening's enterprise was carefully loaded into
the rowboat; then, with final admonitions to Tommy and Margery to keep
silent and not be afraid, the party set out in the rowboat for the
entrance of the creek. They paused there long enough to make certain
that no one was about, after which they rowed along the shore a short
distance and made a landing at a point where the ground was fairly
level.

"Now be very quiet," whispered Harriet. "Remember the signal to return
to the boat is one long caw. Two caws in quick succession mean 'hurry.'"

"We shan't be far apart, shall we?" questioned Hazel, somewhat
apprehensively.

"No. Within speaking distance," replied Miss Elting. "Leave it to
Harriet and Jane to make the first advance. We will follow when the time
is right. It is fortunate that we left Tommy and Margery at home. Are
you ready, Harriet?"

It was a silent party of four shadowy figures that made its way
cautiously along the shore of the island for some little distance. The
party then turned sharply to the right and disappeared among the bushes
that marked a slight rise of ground. Reaching this rise they turned to
the left and once more proceeded straight ahead.

The lights of a campfire were soon distinguishable between the trees.
The party was nearing the camp of the Tramp Club. The time to prepare
for their final triumph was at hand.

"Now, Harriet," urged Miss Elting in a half whisper.

"Yes. I will go around to the other side of the camp. That will be the
most difficult position to get away from, so I am choosing it for
myself. Jane, you will remain here, while Miss Elting and Hazel will
take a position halfway between us. You see that will enable us
practically to surround the camp. After you hear me, wait a moment, then
give them a thriller."

Harriet, accompanied by the guardian and Hazel, stepped promptly away.
After going on for some distance, the girl directed Miss Elting and
Hazel to stop and remain where they were, except that they were to
separate, yet keep within easy call of each other. This detail arranged,
Harriet went on.

According to previous arrangement, Jane, Miss Elting and Hazel gradually
crept nearer to the camp, continuing until they could make out the
figures of the boys quite plainly. The latter were sitting about the
campfire. Their attitude was one of dejection. They had been outwitted
and they knew it.