“It’s nearly as cold as ice water,” Tom announced.  “There’s a bully big spring just a few steps back in the woods.”

“Then I’m going to use some of this to wash up,” Darrin declared.  “I’ll go with you on the next trip, Tom, and help carry the water.”

“You’d better wait until we get the tent up before we wash,” suggested Prescott.  “Then you’ll need it more.”

Quick work was made of the encamping.  Dan and Greg, from the wagon, passed down the tent itself, the floor boards and joists, the cots and bedding and some of the food supplies.

Then all hands quickly put up the tent.  Reade and Hazelton had the flooring down in a jiffy.  Dan and Greg put up the cots, while Dick and Dave set up the folding camp table and started the fire in the stove with a bundle of fagots brought in by Hazelton.

“Now, get busy with the wash-up,” Dick called.

Within thirty minutes after halting, supper was on the table.

“How far from a swimming place this time?” Tom asked.

“Three miles, if I’ve studied the map right,” replied Prescott, taking the road map from his pocket and passing it over.

“To-morrow,” said Dave, “some of us will swim in plain sight of the outfit all the time.”

“Do you think you can hike three miles and swim before breakfast in the morning?” asked Dick.

“The way I feel now,” said Tom, pushing his campstool back from the table, “I shan’t need anything to eat to-morrow.”

“You must feel ill, then,” declared Danny Grin.

“No; I feel just filed up enough to last for two or three days,” sighed Reade contentedly.

Harry and Greg were a bit footsore, but the other boys claimed to feel all right.

“Do any of you feel like taking an evening walk?” asked Dick with a smile.

“I do,” Darrin declared promptly.

“Not I,” replied Tom.  “At least not so soon after supper.”

“Shall we try the walk?” Dick asked Darrin.

“I’m ready,” Dave agreed.  “Come along, then.”  Though it was dark, the two boys decided not to take a lantern with them.

“We don’t need one on a public highway,” said Dick as they plunged off down the dark road.

“How far shall we go?” Darrin asked.

“I think two miles away from camp and two miles back, ought to be far enough,” Dick replied.

“If we feel like going farther, we can tackle it when the time comes,” Darrin answered.  “But how shall we judge the distance?”

“We’ll walk briskly for thirty-five to thirty-eight minutes,” Prescott suggested.  “Then we’ll turn back.  While we’re out we may get some idea of whether there’s a swimming place nearer than three miles from camp.”

Neither felt in the least footsore.  Indeed, these two hardy high school boys thoroughly enjoyed their tramp in this cooler part of the twenty-four hours.

“I wish we could live outdoors all the time,” murmured Darrin, as he filled his lungs with the fine night air.