eemed to the girls.

The girls looked at each other inquiringly--then made a concerted rush
for the door.

"Oh, what a noise!" cried Betty. "It's just as well there isn't anybody
else in this part of the wood."

A moment later the boys rushed upon them, vigorously pounding utensils,
and shouting at the top of their voices. The girls gave way before them,
and the roisterers tumbled in and took possession as though they were
really the Redskins, whose cries they were successfully imitating. They
raced about the house like madmen, while the girls watched their antics
in a peculiar frame of mind. If the truth must be told, they were
undecided whether to be displeased or amused. Amusement conquered in the
end, however, for the boys were irresistibly funny, and the girls
laughed till they ached and the tears rolled down their cheeks.

After considerable time they all managed to quiet down enough to talk
sense.

"The girls want us to make a fire, fellows," said Frank. "The idea looks
good to me."

"It is good," Allen agreed. "Give us the wood and matches, and we will
have a fire going in no time."

"The wood is in the fire-place," Betty answered, "and Mollie has the
matches, I think."

With this the boys set to work energetically, while the girls and Mrs.
Irving stood about them in a semi-circle.

"It's so different from building a fire in the open," Amy commented. "I
always love them. Can't we toast marshmallows? That's the most fun of
all."

"We could if we had any," Grace replied dryly. "I have some chocolates
but you can't roast them, and nobody had the sense to think to buy
marshmallows to-day."

At this last remark, Frank sat back upon his heels and favored Mollie
with a sly wink--while that young lady smiled mysteriously.

"Thereby hangs a tale of which you shall hear later," he said, and, in
spite of all their urging, he could not be made to say another word.

However, their curiosity was forgotten a moment later--forgotten in the
excitement caused by a strange and curious happening.

Suddenly the smoke which had been rolling in clouds up the chimney,
refused to roll farther. There being no other exit except into the room,
the girls and boys suddenly found themselves suffocating. They choked,
and the boys stumbled to their feet and followed the fleeing girls into
the dining room.

There was a chorus of sneezes and smothered cries of "I'm choking! Open
the window, some one, quick!"

"The windows ar