“The boys aren’t going all the way out,” said Grace presently.  “I just heard a girl say they are only going to escort us to the city line.”

“Then we won’t have to feed them,” Madaline remarked, her words being discounted by the joking tone of her voice.

It was an imposing spectacle, and all Flosston seemed to appreciate the occasion, for windows were jammed with faces, doors were blocked with figures, and even low roofs were spotted with waving, shouting energetic youths.  Not since a wartime parade had there been so much excitement, and only a word from the superintendent to the engineer of Fluffdown mills prevented the latter from blowing the big whistle.

“It might make it look too much like a labor parade,” the superintendant decided.

Crossing the line from the borough into the county, the escort of boy scouts switched off to Oakleigh, where they were to take up their own special activities, the principal feature of the afternoon being a ball game with the Marvels.

From this point it was but a short distance to hike to River Bend Woods, and nearing the noted territory the four scout girls experienced a sort of thrill.  Grace felt something must happen to clear the mystery of her cave correspondent, and the other girls sincerely hoped something would happen.

Just before entering the pine grove the two captains, Clark and Cosgrove, halted their troops and issued instructions.

No girl was to leave the ranks, no girl was to make any advance, and no girl was to disobey the slightest order until the call for break ranks would be sounded.

These orders were given with precision which indicated some very particular program, and served to “thrill” the quartette with new expectations.

“Some one else is having a picnic!” whispered Grace.  “I see a lot of bright things through the trees!”

“Hush!” cautioned Margaret, for the patrol leaders were inspecting each line.

“Now, girls!” called Captain Clark.  “When I blow the whistle you are to follow your leaders, and rush forward.  No one is to push, or crowd, but to advance in a solid line, battle formation.  Then when I blow three whistles, halt instantly!”

The ground was quite clear at this entrance to the woods, and at the command a grand rush forward was so cleverly executed it seemed the line scarcely lost step making the dash.

Then the whistle sounded three times and behold!

“Oh! oh! oh!”

The woods rang with the cries!

What a sight!  A woodland play or Fairyland let loose!

Quickly as astonished eyes could separate the view into its component parts, Grace realized the stage was set on her hollow rock!

Then Madaline recognized the Queen seated on her throne was none other than the little girl to whom she had given her four-leaf clover!

While the next moment a figure came from behind the big tree, the tree Grace had tied her victim to, and this was surely the very same man!  His suit was that exact brownish mixture—­and sure enough he was waving the very piece of rope Grace had tied him with.