“Maybe they’ve got an oven tho Buthter can make her cuthtard,” suggested Tommy Thompson.

“Please do be quiet, Tommy.  We want to hear about the Tramp Club and what we are to do to outwit them,” said Miss Elting.  “Did they bring their tent with them, Harriet?”

“Yes.  At least they have a small tent.  I don’t believe they have moved their permanent camp, but they are here in force, that is certain.  Now, I’ll tell you about the surprise I propose to give them.”

Harriet explained briefly.  At first the girls were not in favor of it, but after she had gone into further details they grew enthusiastic.

“You certainly do love to work, don’t you, Harriet Burrell?” said Miss Elting with a laugh.  “But it is good for you.  I like to see you all active.  One is likely to grow lazy on a houseboat.”

“Not on thith houtheboat,” complained Tommy.  “It keepeth me tired out all the time watching other folkth work.  My boneth ache all night long, I am tho tired.  When I get home I’ll thleep for a month to make up for lotht time.”

“Had we better start now, Harriet?” asked the guardian.

“Oh, mercy, no; The boys are up yet and perhaps out on the lake.  I propose that we go to bed, setting our alarm clock for two o’clock in the morning.”

“Help, help!” moaned Margery.  “You’ll be the death of me.”

“Thave me!” murmured Tommy.

CHAPTER XIII

AN EARLY MORNING SURPRISE

Half an hour after Harriet had outlined her scheme to surprise their friends, the girls were in bed.  They were tired, as usual, and went promptly to sleep.

In the meantime the Tramp Club boys had been busy making camp.  They built up a campfire, and, before going to bed, cooked some fish that had been caught by one of their number that day.

“I don’t believe the Meadow-Brook Girls are in these parts at all,” declared Larry Goheen.

“It’s a lark coming over here for a night’s camping out, anyway,” answered Billy Gordon, “It is like being real Indians.”

“We aren’t Indians,” answered George, “It is those girls who are the Indians.  I’d just like to see any other girls in the state of New Hampshire make the hike they did that last day we were on the trail.  They may be twenty miles from here by this time.  If we don’t find them to-morrow I, for one, shall be in favor of making a trip around the lake in the launch.  We can pretend that we had to go on an errand, or for some fishing bait or something of the sort.  We mustn’t let them know we have been looking for them.”

It was after midnight when the boys turned in.  They, too, went sound asleep directly they rolled up in their blankets in their little tent.  Two hours later while the Tramp Club were oblivious to sound and time, the alarm clock on the “Red Rover” went off with a thrilling whirr.  The girls sprang from their cots, Margery and Tommy protesting over being awakened at that unseemly hour, as they characterized it.  Harriet lighted the oil stove and put the kettle on.  The others went out to the deck to wash their faces.  Harriet, having finished her labors for the time being, followed them.