“It’s a pity that Dave and some of the other boys couldn’t find their tongues and make as good use of them as Dick has just done,” pouted Belle Meade.

“Dick Prescott is our captain, always,” replied Darry, with a comical sigh, “and his sway extends even to the point of his bartering away our liberties.”

“Let us go on, farther into the woods,” urged Belle, turning to Dr. Bentley.

“I think not,” replied the doctor dryly.

“Since Prescott has been the only one to hold out the gracious hand, I believe we’ll settle right down here, as a reward to Prescott and as a punishment to the others.”

“Hooray for punishment!” laughed Darry.  “I can take a lot of it.”

“That’s the first nice thing you’ve said,” declared Miss Meade.

“I’ll say a lot more if you’re going to be here for the rest of the summer vacation,” promised Darry.

“Not quite as long as that,” declared Dr. Bentley.  “But we’ll be here for a few days.  Then we’ll go on to other camping places.”

“You’re going to be just in time for dinner to-day,” Dick informed the new arrivals.

“We’ll be just in time to get our own dinner,” smiled Laura.  “We have an abundance of supplies with us, and we’re not going to eat you boys out of the woods.  The first meal with guests will be when you come over to our camp and take revenge for the descent that we made upon you the other day.”

“Dick,” inquired the doctor, “where do you think we could pitch camp best?”

“It depends upon the size of your houses and tents,” Prescott answered.

“Naturally.  Your answer is a good deal more sensible than my question.”

“Anyway,” Dick suggested, in an undertone, “your camp should be just far enough away so that neither camp will intrude on the privacy of the other.  I think I know a spot, if your houses are not too large.”

Dr. Bentley mentioned the sizes of the two portable houses.

“The spot that I have in mind will do finely,” Dick declared.  “And I think you can drive the wagons in there.”

Dan Dalzell was sent to the road to instruct the teamsters to drive in at the point which young Prescott mentioned.

It was not long before the two wagons were at the spot.  Reade now remained at the boys’ camp, to look out for things, while the other five went over to the new camp to be of assistance.

Dr. Bentley, having removed his coat, was now busily at work.  The two wagons were unloaded of a host of things, after which the teamsters started, at once, to erect the portable houses.  As these were of a pattern requiring but little work, they were up within a few hours.

Dick & Co. pitched the tents, also busying themselves in various other ways.  Now, Mrs. Bentley, aided by the high school girls, started in to prepare the noon meal.

“We shall want you boys over here about tomorrow noon,” said Laura.  “By that time we shall be all to rights and ready to act as hostesses.”