“Are you all right?” asked Zeb, the colored man.  “No accidents or nothin’?”

“Nothing at all, Zeb, I’m glad to say,” was the Captain’s answer.  “We are here right side up with care.  And will you tell Mrs. Nelson that for me,” she went on to the chauffeur who, with the help of Zeb, was lifting out the baggage and valises.

“I will; yes’m,” was the reply.  “I am to bring them back here Tuesday morning, and get you.  I hope you enjoy your stay.”

“Thank you, I know we shall,” and the Captain’s words found echo in the hearts of the girls.

“Let’s go fishing!  I see a stream that ought to have fish in!” cried Cleo.

“Let’s get our uniforms on and go for a hike.  I’ve never been in these woods before!” cried Margaret.

“Let’s see if we can find any specimens—­fossils or the like,” came from Cleo, who had lately developed a collecting fever.

“Let’s eat!” declaimed Grace.  “I’m starved!”

“I think the last suggestion is best,” decided Captain Clark.  “We can soon change into our uniforms, and after a meal, which I judge should be called dinner instead of lunch, we may take a walk, or fish, or hike, or fossilize, as you then elect.”

“De dinnah am ‘mos’ ready,” announced Alameda, the colored cook.

“Oh, where have I heard them joyous words before?” cried Cleo, pretending to faint into Margaret’s arms.

“I golly!  Dem suah am lively li’l gals!  Dey suah am!” declared Zeb, as he went off to get a fresh pail of water at the spring.

Soon the jolly little party, having the really well-appointed camp to themselves, sat down to a wild-wood meal.  To say they enjoyed it is putting it mildly—­far too mildly; they were “transported with joy,” Grace insisted.

“I declare!  It’s a shame to stay here any longer!” announced Cleo finally, although the joy had not been entirely consumed.

“Do you mean you’re ashamed of eating so much?” asked Grace.

“No, but it’s a pity to waste this glorious day in, just staying around camp.  Let’s go down to the brook, river or whatever it is.”

“And may we fish?” asked Margaret.

“I think so.  I’ll ask Zeb if there are some rods that may be trusted to amateurs,” replied the Captain.

There were, as it developed, and presently equipped with all that was needed for the sport, the little party set off through the woods, following a direction Zeb gave them to locate the best fishing place.

It was no new experience for the quartette, led by the Captain, to hike through the woods, but something really new awaited them this time, as they soon discovered to their sorrow.

Cleo was in the lead and, after plunging through a rather thick growth of underbrush, she suddenly uttered a cry.

“What is it—­a snake?” asked Margaret, who followed.

“If it is, don’t get excited,” warned the Captain, who heard the exclamation.  “There are absolutely no poisonous snakes in this vicinity, and any other kind is more frightened of you than you can possibly be of him, girls,” she insisted.