Susie’s face had grown so grave that Prescott could not help regarding her quizzically.

“I mean just what to say about robbing the farmers, don’t I, girls?” Susie asked.

“Yes,” agreed Laura Bentley promptly.  She had no idea what was passing in her friend’s head, but she knew Susie well enough to feel sure that the latter was planning nothing very wicked.

“Can’t we take you out, two at a time?” proposed Dick, as the young people neared the float.

“Now?” inquired Laura.

“Yes; since ‘now’ is always the best time for doing things,” Prescott replied.

In no time at all the plan had been agreed to.  Clara and Susie went out for the first ride in the canoe, Tom Reade taking command, while Dick and Dave remained on the float.

Two at a time the girls were taken out on the water.  This consumed nearly two hours of time altogether, but it was thoroughly enjoyed by every member of the party.

But at last it came close, indeed, to the luncheon hour.

“Now, when are you coming over to that picnic in our camp?” Dick asked in an outburst of hospitality.

“At what time of the day?” Laura inquired.

“If your mother and Mrs. Meade will come along as chaperons,” Dick answered, “night would be the best time.”

“Why at night?”

“Because, then, you wouldn’t be able to see the shabby aspect of our camp so plainly.”

“It would be very jolly to go over and have a picnic meal by the campfire,” Belle agreed.  “Yet, in that case, we would want to reach your place by half-past four or so in the afternoon.”

“Why?”

“So that we girls may have the fun of helping prepare a famous feast,” Miss Meade went on.  “Boys, if we come, we shall pass luncheon by and bring keen appetites for that evening feast.  What is the principal item on the bill of fare of your camp?”

“Canned goods,” replied Tom Reade.

“Don’t you believe him,” Dick interjected quickly.  “Lake trout, bass and perch.  This lake is well stocked, and we have already found one splendid fishing hole.  We got up at five this morning and caught so many fish in half an hour that we threw some of them back into the water because we had no ice.”

“Will your mothers come, if we have it in the evening?” asked Dick looking at Laura and Belle.

“Surely,” nodded Laura quickly.

“And we’ll greatly enjoy it,” Dick went on, “if Dr. Bentley will also come.  Is your father here, Miss Meade?”

“I’m sorry to say that he isn’t,” Belle answered.  “A real picnic, in real woods, beside real water, would appeal to him strongly.”

“But we haven’t fixed upon the date,” cried Susie impatiently.

“How would to-morrow night do?” Dick suggested.

“Famously,” Laura replied.  “Now, boys, you catch the fish to-morrow afternoon, and don’t bother so much about the other things to eat.  We won’t have any canned stuff in our famous feast.  We girls will bring all the garden stuff.”